Arizona drug abuse overview

Arizona has a population of 7,276,316 people. The most recent data from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that 1,357,000 people over the age of 12 had abused illegal substances in the past month, around 18.65% of the population. 1,338,000 reported marijuana use in the past month and 1,597,000 in the past year. The report also found that 120,000 Arizona residents had abused cocaine in the past year, 108,000 had abused meth, and 247,000 had abused prescription pain medication. 39,000 people over the age of 18 reported using heroin in the last year. Those reporting opioid misuse including heroin, painkillers, and fentanyl in Arizona totaled 257,000 people.

Arizona alcohol abuse

Alcohol misuse was also reported in Arizona with 3,100,000 people over the age of 12 saying they had used alcohol in the last month and 1,475,000 reporting binge drinking. The perceived risk of people over 12 years of age indulging in problematic alcohol use (5 or more drinks twice a week) in a month was 3,192,000 people.

What treatment options are available in Arizona?

Finding a treatment therapy that you are confident with and that will be beneficial to you will help ensure that you have the best chance of overcoming addiction. Treatment that is comfortable and trustworthy to you or the loved one for whom you are seeking rehab can help you or them respond better.

For example, individual therapy may be the preferred course of treatment for some people, while psychotherapy may be more appropriate for others. Choosing the right therapy in Arizona should be done with an open mind. When looking for rehab, there are several factors to take into account, such as location, cost, and type of care provided. 

Some of the treatment options that are available in Arizona include:

Arizona overdose deaths

In 2021, Arizona saw a total of 2604 recorded drug-related overdose deaths. This includes those that were accidental or unidentifiable but excludes those that were related to suicide or homicide. This puts the overdose death toll in Arizona at 35.8 people per 100,000. The total number of alcohol-related deaths (including overdose and all other causes) was 1891 or 25.9 per 100,000 people.

Substance use disorders in Arizona

The NSDUH report also recorded the total amount of substance abuse disorders in Arizona and those who currently require treatment. The report found that 1,216,000 were recorded as having a substance use disorder (SUD) and 788,000 had an alcohol use disorder. 179,000 people were recorded as having an opioid use disorder including those with painkiller, heroin, and other opioid-based drug use disorders.

Treatment rates in Arizona

There are many who have been diagnosed with or reported a substance, illicit drug, or alcohol use disorder that require rehab treatment and are not receiving it. The report found that 600 people in Arizona needed treatment for illicit substance abuse, 768,000 required treatment for an alcohol use disorder, and 1,116,000 needed treatment for a diagnosed substance use disorder.

What is residential rehab in Arizona like?

The experience of residential rehab in Arizona is designed to be standardized, comfortable, and structured. You will have a plan while in residential recovery, which will include set hours for meals and activities.

Your day will start early, at approximately 8 am, when breakfast will be served. After that, the morning and afternoon portions of the day will be separated. The afternoon is when you may participate in leisure or educational activities or perhaps have some free time to pursue other hobbies. The morning is often set aside for treatment and therapy. You will return to your room at a certain time in the evening, and be recommended to sleep at set times.

Read here to learn more about a typical stay in residential rehab.

How do I pay for rehab in Arizona?

While rehab is the best solution for overcoming drug and alcohol addiction, it is not accessible to everyone. Often, people, who need rehab the most are the ones who cannot engage with it. This may be due to a lack of available rehabs in their area, a lack of support from family and friends, co-occurring mental disorders, or not being in the right mindset to engage with therapy. Most often, however, it is a lack of funding that acts as a barrier to rehab.

The most common way to pay for rehab is through your private health insurance policy. This may be part of your employer's policy or a family policy. This type of insurance will cover most types of drug and alcohol rehab in Arizona.

You can also pay for rehab through Medicare or Medicaid programs, also known as public insurance. Accessing rehab through these programs means that the cost is reduced to a single payment. This may vary depending on the length of your stay.

Local government assistance

You may get assistance from the state of Arizona in several ways, including therapy, counseling, and everything in between. You should be conscious of the different forms of help provided by your municipal government, many of which won't cost you anything. Here is a list of resources for local government rehab assistance in Arizona.

Arizona State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) - A meeting of Arizona state governors to codify and understand key factors impacting barriers to rehab in the community, and provide actionable recommendations for health providers to provide the best possible support for those needing rehab therapy.

Arizona Women's Recovery Center - A safe space for women suffering from substance abuse in Arizona to find treatment, a network, resources, housing, employment, and more. The center offers outpatient treatment assisted, semi-independent living. 

Arizona Substance Abuse Partnership - This service provides comprehensive information on the services that are available to you or a loved one so that you can make an educated choice. You can talk to a dedicated support agent who can assist you, give advice and direct you to further support. There is a range of materials for prevention.