Alaska

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Drug and Alcohol Addiction, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Information in Alaska

Overview of Drug and Alcohol Trafficking and Abuse in Alaska

Apart from the lives that have been broken by addiction, America also loses billions of dollars from problems related to substance abuse every year. More or less half a million in population, Alaska is not spared from the debilitating problem of substance abuse in the country today. Despite of it's small population, their annual rate of alcohol and drug addiction is relatively high and they are also one of the major consumers of illegal substances. Most of the recorded criminal offenses and violence in Alaska are effects of alcohol or drug use and abuse. Almost half of Alaska's population may also be facing the problem of alcoholism because habitual drinking is very common. They learn to start drinking in their early teens and most get stuck with it as they grow older.

Drug and Alcohol Trafficking Information in Alaska

Lying strategically on the ports of the Arctic and Pacific oceans, as well as on the border to Canada, Alaska is a very ideal spot for illegal drug trafficking and transnational crimes. Illegal substances can easily come in to Alaska due to it's location, which favors major Drug Trafficking Organizations or DTOs. It is a convenient entry point for them to bring in drugs from South America to the United States, making Alaskans' illegal drug consumption constantly increase for the past 20 years. Most of the DTOs that pass through Alaska are from Mexico and the Dominican Republic. There are a lot of very easy ways to transport illegal substances, such as the U.S. Postal Service or other mailing services, local or private aircrafts, and even through boats and snow machines.

There are programs that were created by the Drug Enforcement Association or DEA to help alleviate the drug problems throughout the country. DEA incorporated Mobile Enforcement Teams (MET) in 1995 to collaborate with the local law enforcers to aid the different states in fighting drug trafficking and other drug-related crimes. There had been a total of 409 operations spread all across the country, with 16,763 numbers of drug-related arrests as of 2004. There are also Regional Enforcement Teams (RET) formed in 1999 to strengthen the areas or states that has inadequate local reinforcement groups. Given these facts, there had been no recorded deployments that has been sent to Alaska.

In spite of the fact that DEA has no MET or RET deployments in Alaska, they do have their local Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Enforcement (ABADE), that aims for the reduction of the availability of alcohol and illegal substances in the area. This is funded both by the government and the state.

Drug and Alcohol Abuse Information in Alaska

Alcohol is said to be the primary abused substance in Alaska. It is the common cause of crimes, deaths, violence, suicides and accidents. This is due to the fact that alcohol is legal in the state and can easily be purchased. Illegal sales of alcohol have also been a very profitable business among natives. The number of illegal alcohol bootleggers dramatically increases over the years.

Much like others, Alaska is not just a marijuana-smoking state, but also a producing and exporting state. In fact, their products are considered to be very high in quality, that the demand for it is also high. It is even cultivated in high standard processes indoors by private individuals.

Methamphetamine, also known as meth, speed, crank, crystal or ice, is also rampant in Alaska. Just like how the whole of the country is, Alaskans are not just avid users of it but are producers too. There are small-scale meth laboratories being maintained within the neighborhoods.

Cocaine and crack are also largely available in Alaska. Illegal trading of this substance is also rampant due to big amount of profits from the sales.

Other substances that are also being abused are heroin, "club drugs" like the MDMA (methylene-dioxy methamphetamine) or ecstasy and prescription drugs like the Oxycontin, Oxycodone, Methadone or Hydrocodone.

According to statistics, as of 2003, there are about 64.2% men and 35.8% women who are admitted in drug rehabilitation facilities in Alaska. A bulk from these rehab patients are between 41-45 years of age, followed by those who are about 36-40 years old.

Types of Drug Rehab and Alcoholism Treatment programs in Alaska

There are close to a hundred alcohol and drug rehabilitation facilities, government or privately operated alike, in Alaska. They cater to all types of individuals and are located in key cities within the area. In spite of this, there is still a growing need for these kind of facilities because of the continuously increasing number of alcohol and drug addiction cases.

But apart from the placement of an illegal substance user in a treatment facility, it is also essential for every individual to be educated about the services that it offers or the various treatments that are available. This will help a lot in making the right decision in choosing the best program to get into.

It is said to be that the first step towards any kind of rehabilitation and addiction treatment is detoxification. Commonly called as withdrawal, it is called as such because it is when the patient withdraws from the substance from which he/she is addicted to. It is a complete halt from using alcohol or drugs. This not an easy task, and doing it on your own is quite a feat, that is why medical assistance is generally advised.

The first type of drug treatment is called the outpatient counseling. It is said to be that 90% of the dependents enroll in this kind of program. But this is not a very effective treatment because the patient only attends counseling and is not confined into a facility. There is not much of a difference from being out and free because the possibility of continued alcohol or drug use, in spite of counseling, is still very high. Next is the short-term inpatient treatment, which is a 30-day program where a dependent do not just undergo counseling but is also confined in a facility. And, the long-term residential treatment, which is a program of 60 days or more, where the dependent is also confined in a facility. The last two treatments are considered the best because it is extensive and it is rather specialized because the duration depends upon the gravity of addiction.

Although America is not alone in facing substance abuse that leads to more destructive problems in the society. It is best to help one's own self to be better individuals, so that we ourselves can help in making a better country.