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Drug and Alcohol Addiction, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Information in Caribou, Maine

Overview of Drug and Alcohol Trafficking and Abuse in Caribou, Maine

Residents of Caribou, Maine, particularly teenagers, are overshadowed by drug trafficking and alcohol abuse. Most of the illegal drugs that are shipped to Caribou, Maine come from Canada, Massachusetts, New York, Florida, and other southwestern states. Delivered through different means of transportation, illegal drugs like heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, and club drugs are made available within the state.

Heroin and cocaine are the two most commonly abused drugs in Caribou, Maine. Rapidly becoming ubiquitous, these drugs affect crime rates. Marijuana, a cheaper alternative, is a favorite among teenagers. Club drugs like MDMA (3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine), LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide), and Khat (Catha edulis) are also gaining popularity. Although the least favorite, methamphetamine is still smuggled from Boston, New York, California, and southwestern states.

Alcohol abuse among teens is revealed in the 2006 Maine Youth Drug and Alcohol Abuse Survey (MYDAUS) where 48 percent of students (sixth to twelfth grade) admitted to drinking alcohol.

Drug and Alcohol Trafficking Information in Caribou, Maine

Most of the heroin in Caribou, Maine come from Mexico, South America, Southeast Asia, and Southwest Asia. Drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) supplying wholesale and retail heroin are found in cities like Augusta, Bangor, Houlton, Lewiston, Auburn, Waterville, and Portland. The heroin is delivered through local dealers, abusers, and Caucasian syndicates. Although distribution of wholesale heroin is uncommon in Maine, there are incidents where Dominican syndicates from Massachusetts supply retailers with huge amounts of heroin usually placed inside a “finger” (cut from a surgical glove).

Produced in Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia, cocaine is shipped to Caribou, Maine through Caucasian dealers and Dominican dealers. All over Caribou, Maine, Caucasians provide a steady supply of powdered cocaine while Massachusetts-based DTOs produce wholesale supplies of cocaine. Crack cocaine is supplied only to southern areas of Maine, so users are now capable of converting powdered cocaine to crack.

In 2002, drug seizures in Maine are reported to have reached over 3,183 grams of heroin, 2,250 grams of powdered cocaine, 781 grams of crack cocaine, and 5.8 kilograms of marijuana. There are also government agencies such as the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (established through the Intergovernmental Drug Enforcement Act of 1987) and the Maine Office of Substance Abuse (OSA) who help in eliminating substance abuse within the state. Created to provide, develop, and regulate substance abuse services, OSA's efforts to fight substance abuse include the Higher Education Alcohol Prevention Partnership, One ME-Stand United for Prevention, Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities, and substance abuse prevention strategies.

Drug and Alcohol Abuse Information in Caribou, Maine

Cocaine addiction in Maine is also rampant as revealed in the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) made in 1999 and 2000. The survey showed that 1.3 percent of the respondents used cocaine in the previous year. In the 2002 MYDAUS, an alarming 2.9 percent of twelfth graders admitted to have used crack cocaine in the previous month. The study also revealed that 2.5 percent of the students were using stimulants such as meth, crystal, and amphetamines in the previous month.

The 2002 MYDAUS reported 1.3 percent of students in twelfth grade have used heroin in the previous month. And according to a study made by the Maine Office of Substance Abuse, treatment admissions due to heroin addiction increased from 396 in 2000 to 816 in 2002. This 106-percent increase may affect the number of substance abuse treatment centers in Maine. In the 2002 MYDAUS results, 29 percent of twelfth graders have used marijuana within the last 30 days.

Aside from cocaine, marijuana, and heroin, prescription drugs like codeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, methadone, and proxyphene are also gaining popularity. A study made in 1997 to 2000 revealed that 63 percent of death caused by prescription drug abuse was due to accidental overdose. Overdose may also result in speedballing, which is when powdered cocaine is mixed with heroin.

The 2006 MYDAUS showed alcohol consumption among teens in Maine. Twenty-nine percent of students from sixth grade to twelfth grade were reported to have consumed alcohol within the last 30 days.

Types of Drug Rehab and Alcoholism Treatment programs in Caribou, Maine

There are 22 cities in Maine and almost all of them have rehabilitation centers offering substance abuse treatment. Through state-based and city-based searches, finding a good treatment center online is made easier and more practical as well. Aside from free information on the different treatments, you can also find testimonials written by actual substance abusers who have recovered after treatment.

Instead of giving “one-size-fits-all” treatments, drug rehabs and alcohol treatment programs do prior evaluation to find suitable treatments to particular recovering abusers. Most drug rehabs also offer drug interventions for drug users who are hesitating to get treatment. Interventions are mediated by professionals who help users realize their addictive problem and the need for rehabilitation. For users who have had previous admissions to treatment centers but failed to overcome their addiction, it would be best to get a residential or in-house treatment. This treatment gives recovering users the opportunity to socialize with one another in a healthy, substance-free environment. Drug rehabs also have drug detox, dual diagnosis treatment, psychosocial therapy, support groups, and post-treatment programs.

An alcohol treatment in Caribou, Maine usually includes alcohol detox, alcohol intervention, professional counseling, dual diagnosis treatment, in-patient and out-patient treatments, and support groups. Most detox in treatment centers have three essential stages: medical detox (body toxins caused by substance abuse are flushed out), physical detox (recommended diet is followed to become physically fit), and emotional detox (counseling and therapy sessions are given to overcome cravings).