Connecticut drug abuse overview
Connecticut has a population of 3,605,597 people. The most recent data from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that 590,000 people over the age of 12 had abused illegal substances in the past month, around 16.36% of the population. 527,000 reported marijuana use in the past month and 748,000 in the past year. The report also found that 76,000 Connecticut residents had abused cocaine in the past year, 34,000 had abused meth, and 122,000 had abused prescription pain medication. 27,000 people over the age of 18 reported using heroin in the last year. Those reporting opioid misuse including heroin, painkillers, and fentanyl in Connecticut totaled 126,000 people.
Connecticut alcohol abuse
Alcohol misuse was also reported in Connecticut with 1,903,000 people over the age of 12 saying they had used alcohol in the last month and 729,000 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 1,518,000 people.
Connecticut overdoses
In 2021, Connecticut saw a total of 1468 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 Connecticut at 40.7 people per 100,000. The total number of alcohol related deaths (including overdose and all other causes) was 542 or 15.1 per 100,000 people.
Connecticut substance use disorders
The NSDUH report also recorded the total amount of substance abuse disorders in Connecticut and those who currently require treatment. The report found that 582,000 were recorded as having a substance use disorder (SUD) and 390,000 had an alcohol use disorder. 75,000 people were recorded as having an opioid use disorder including those with painkiller, heroin, and other opioid-based drug use disorders.
Connecticut addiction treatment needs
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 251 people in Connecticut needed treatment for illicit substance abuse, 399,000 required treatment for an alcohol use disorder, and 557,000 needed treatment for a diagnosed substance use disorder.
Local government assistance Connecticut
In Connecticut, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) offers information and programs to help individuals battling substance and alcohol addiction. On their website, you can find various rehab facilities, programs, and services in the state that will meet your needs.
The DMHAS works on promoting its residents' overall health and wellness by preventing or delaying substance abuse through information dissemination, providing alternative activities for the youth, promoting positive values, and strengthening the community.
The department also offers a wide range of services to help individuals along their recovery journey, like supported education services, employment services, and Wellness centers.
The DMHAS Office of Recovery Community Affairs acts as a bridge between people in recovery and their families, friends, and other allies, helping them beat addiction. They aim to help individuals achieve a meaningful and positive sense of belonging in their community after recovery.
Contact the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services at (860)418-7000.
How do I pay for rehab in Connecticut?
If you consider recovering from drug addiction a lifelong journey, then the cost of rehab will increase as time goes by.
And as much as addicts require these services, they may not always get them because of the high cost of addiction treatment. Rehab centers in Connecticut accept private, state, and military insurance plans to help give you the treatment you need.
For those who aren’t insured, there are rehab centers that accept state-sponsored health benefits like Medicare and Medicaid to cover some of the treatment costs.
Fundraising and crowdfunding through platforms like GoFundMe can help you cover some of the rehab costs if all these options don't work or you can't pay in cash.