Iowa Addiction Treatment and Info

The rates of substance abuse and addiction in Iowa are relatively low. Even so, there are some residents of this state that still continue struggling with drug use and dependence. This is in spite of the fact that there are many addiction rehabilitation facilities across the state.

Addiction in Iowa

Substance use across the United States have been rising for several years now. In Iowa, however, people have some of the lowest rates of drug taking in the country. In fact, the office of the governor of Iowa released a Drug Control Strategy in 2018 showing that the state had the 2nd lowest rates of substance abuse.

Although this is encouraging information, there are still people who are addicted in the state. This is because substance use disorders do not discriminate by age, gender, race, socioeconomic background, or sexuality. In fact, if you are among these people, there is a high risk that your addiction could destroy your life unless you seek professional rehabilitation services.

Commonly Abused Substances in Iowa

That said, some drugs seem to be more popular - going by the latest reports and trends - than others across Iowa. These substances include but are not limited to:

1. Alcohol

Research studies have reported that alcohol is among the most commonly abused substance in this state. Consider the following statistics on the rates of alcohol use and its various adverse effects:

• Among adults, the national average of binge drinking has been set at 16.9 percent while it is at 21.2 percent in Iowa
• In 2017, alcohol was responsible for more than 45 percent of all the admissions in drug rehab centers across the state
• The rates of heavy drinking in the state are at 6.9 percent while at the national level they are at 6.5 percent

A study released in 2009 showed that Iowa was among the top 10 states in terms of the rates of binge group among people between the ages of 12 and 20 as well as those above the age of 26 years.

Other figures reported that the state saw an increase in the total number of people who enrolled in an addiction treatment program citing alcohol and alcohol with another secondary substance in all years from 2007 onwards.

That said, a total of 8668 people were admitted in a rehab program in the state for only abusing alcohol in 2009. Another 6384 people were admitted for abusing both alcohol and another drug.

2. Marijuana

Studies show that marijuana is the 2nd most commonly substances in the state. Over 25 percent of juvenile and adult residents report that this substance is their primary drug of use.

Marijuana has also been listed as the most common illicit substance in the state. Alongside methamphetamine, it has been ranked highest in terms of the rates of drug impaired driving and traffic fatalities.

The potency of this substance has been growing stronger over the years. This is particularly as a result of the increasing availability of such concentrates as edibles, wax, hash, and oils from states in which the drug is legal.

The state was reported to have the lowest rates of cannabis use among people between the ages of 12 and 17. However, more than 7200 were admitted into an addiction treatment program in Iowa for abusing marijuana and being dependent on it. Of this number, only about 23 percent were between the ages of 12 and 17.

3. Stimulants

The rates of stimulant abuse - including substances like methamphetamine - have been on the rise. In 2010, a total of 2950 people checked into a rehab program for abusing amphetamines. Hundreds more were admitted for abusing other stimulants like tranquilizers, hallucinogens, and LDS.

Methamphetamine use, in particular, comes close to the rates of marijuana abuse. In fact, more than 19 percent of the residents who were admitted in a drug rehab program in Iowa admitted that they were addicted to meth. Further, 93 percent of all admissions in prisons across the state are due to this substance.

Over the past few years, Iowa has been witnessing a significant decrease in the rates of meth abuse. This was largely as a result of the crackdown on meth labs as well as new legislation that has limited the availability of one of the ingredients that are essential in the production of methamphetamine - pseudoephedrine.

Even so, the use of meth in Iowa has been growing for some years now. This is because sources from out of state continue supplying the drug to people who have already developed a substance use disorder to it.

4. Opioids and Heroin

Like in the rest of the United States, the rates of opioid abuse have been growing. In 2017, more than 2.5 percent of admissions in drug rehabs across the state were due to heroin alone. Although it might seem like a low number, it has tripled over the past 6 years.

It seems that most of people who abuse heroin started taking prescription opioids. When the state cracked down on these prescription medications, many people made the switch to heroin.

From 2013 to 2015, the state saw a decrease of 7.2 percent in the total number of prescription opioids that were written by doctors. During this time, the people who were dependent on these medications turned to heroin - a drug that is more widely available at lower prices.

The CDC - the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - has reported that this trend is similar to what is happening across the country. This is because more than 75 percent of people who start abusing heroin were first addicted to prescription opioids.

In Iowa, the rates of overdose deaths linked to heroin grew from 1 to 20 from 2003 through to 2013. Prescription opioids, on the other hand were responsible for a rise of 1333 percent in terms of the numbers of fatalities during the same period from 6 to 86 deaths.

5. Cocaine

Cocaine is the 5th most commonly abused substance in this state. In 2017, more than 1.5 percent of all the people who were admitted into a drug rehab facility were abusing cocaine.

Although cocaine is one of the most dangerous substances of abuse, recent statistics show that its use has been on the decline. Further, there has been a decline in the number of admissions into prison due to this drug - falling to less than 7 percent according to the latest figures.

For several years, Iowa has seen an increase in the total number of admissions in its drug rehab programs for cocaine abuse - irrespective of the route of administration of this substance. In 2009, for instance, close to 1100 people were admitted for abusing cocaine or crack cocaine.

Drug Related Fatalities and Injuries in Iowa

The state saw an increase in the total number of methamphetamine labs that it seized from 181 labs in 2007 to 267 labs in 2009. This number had reduced significantly from the figures reported in 2004 - when a total of 1437 labs were seized in Iowa.

The ONDUP - the Office of National Drug Use Policy - reported that the state lost a total of 211 lives due to substance abuse. At the same time, 459 people died in motor car accidents while another 157 lives were lost in incidents involving firearms.

The state has also witnessed an increase in the economic costs of alcohol and drug abuse. These costs have particularly been on the rise due to traffic accidents, costs for treatment and healthcare services, legal costs, decreased workplace productivity, economic losses from incarceration, and increased absences at work.

Addiction Prevention in Iowa

Iowa has been working to reduce, curtail, and prevent the substance abuse and addiction problem from affecting more of its residents. According to the Office of Drug Control Policy run by the governor, there are new strategies to reduce the cycle of addiction across the state. These strategies include:

a) Crime and Prison Admissions

First, the state has been trying to reduce the number of admissions into prison as well as crimes linked to substance abuse. It has been achieving this goal by promoting reentry programs that give a second chance to drug offenders. Further, it has invested in early prevention and intervention programs to ensure that young people at high risk of substance use do not get involved.

b) Drug and Alcohol Rehabs

Additionally, Iowa has been striving to increase the total number of recovering addicts who are abstinent and employed within 6 months of leaving a drug rehab center. It has been doing this by promoting both mid and long term drug rehab programs as well as expanding the various roles and mandates of drug courts across the state.

c) Substance Related Fatalities

Iowa has been attempting to reduce the total number of traffic fatalities linked to drugs and alcohol. it is achieving this goal by implementing intervention training programs for servers working in bars and restaurants, enforcing drugged and drunk driving laws, as well as developing new diversion and education programs for minors.

Apart from the above strategies, the state has been trying to reduce and prevent the abuse of tobacco and alcohol - as well as many other addictive and intoxicating substances - among teens in the 11th grade. By so doing, it hopes to reduce the substance use disorders of the future.

Addiction Treatment in Iowa

The Substance Abuse TEDS - Treatment Episode Data Set - report for 2009 showed that a total of 27,843 people were admitted into an addiction treatment and rehabilitation facility in 2010. Of this number, 31 percent were female while the remaining 69 percent were male.

Three years earlier in 2006, the state had a total of 125 facilities offering these professional rehabilitation services. 28 of these centers had an inpatient or residential rehab program while 4 were providing opioid treatments.

The state saw an increase from 6 percent in 1992 to 23 percent in 2006 in terms of the number of people who were enrolled in these centers for being addicted to drugs alone - without alcohol. even so, Iowa has one of the lowest rates of unmet needs for addiction treatment across all population groups.

The addiction treatment programs that are in Iowa are overseen by the state Department of Public Health - through its Bureau of Substance Abuse. By so doing, it has ensuring that the following are some of the programs available in this state for use among clients who are struggling with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health and medical disorders.

i) Medical Detox

Medically supervised detoxification is the first step that you have to take when you get started on the road to recovery. Through this process, your body will be able to eliminate all traces and toxins of addictive substances that are still lodged in its system. In the process, it helps you overcome your physical dependence on these substances.

When this happens, you will start displaying some withdrawal symptoms that could potentially turn out to be anything from uncomfortable and disconcerting to painful and fatal.

To this end, you need professional medically supervised detox services to ensure that you do not succumb to these symptoms of withdrawal or feel so much pain that you relapse in a bid to control them.

ii) Inpatient Drug Rehab

After detox, the addiction treatment program will either recommend that you go for inpatient or outpatient drug rehab. Inpatient drug rehab might be ideal if you have a severe substance use disorder or if you have also been diagnosed with a co-occurring mental health or medical disorders over and above your addiction.

In such a program, you will be staying at the treatment center for the entire duration of your recovery - which could be anything from 30 days to 90 days or even longer. The duration will largely depend on the severity and duration of your addiction, as well as on your progress in recovery.

iii) Outpatient Drug Rehab

Most outpatient treatment programs tend to be less intensive that their inpatient counterparts. This is primarily due to the fact that you will not be required to live at the recovery center.

However, you will still be required to go for your treatment and therapy sessions several times every week - for a couple of hours at most each time. You can then go back to your daily schedule.

In such a way, outpatient drug rehab could allow you to keep your treatment a secret as well as continue meeting your various responsibilities and obligations at work, school, and home.

Getting Help

Whether you choose inpatient or outpatient drug rehab, there are many different therapies that you are likely to come across while enrolled in a professional addiction treatment program in Iowa to help you overcome your addiction and other related disorders.

CITATIONS

https://www.carnevaleassociates.com/our-work/emerging-drug-trends-prevention-issue-brief.html

https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2018-11/DIR-032-18%202018%20NDTA%20final%20low%20resolution.pdf

https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids/opioid-summaries-by-state/iowa-opioid-summary

https://www.getsmartaboutdrugs.gov/news-statistics/emerging-drug-trends

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK234579/

https://www.shadac.org/publications/50-state-analysis-drug-overdose-trends-evolving-opioid-crisis-across-states

https://www.unodc.org/documents/wdr/WDR_2010/2.0_Drug_statistics_and_Trends.pdf

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