Louisiana Rehabs

Louisiana has a population of 4,624,047 people. The most recent data from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that 670,000 people over the age of 12 had abused illegal substances in the past month, around 14.49% of the population. 613,000 reported marijuana use in the past month and 866,000 in the past year. The report also found that 96,000 Louisiana residents had abused cocaine in the past year, 95,000 had abused meth, and 199,000 had abused prescription pain medication. 53,000 people over the age of 18 reported using heroin in the last year. Those reporting opioid misuse including heroin, painkillers, and fentanyl in Louisiana totaled 211,000 people.

Alcohol misuse was also reported in Louisiana with 1,860,000 people over the age of 12 saying they had used alcohol in the last month and 1,038,000 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 1,928,000 people.

In 2021, Louisiana saw a total of 2419 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 Louisiana at 52.3 people per 100,000. The total number of alcohol-related deaths (including overdose and all other causes) was 514 or 11.1 per 100,000 people.

The NSDUH report also recorded the total amount of substance abuse disorders in Louisiana and those who currently require treatment. The report found that 826,000 were recorded as having a substance use disorder (SUD) and 485,000 had an alcohol use disorder. 168,000 people were recorded as having an opioid use disorder including those with painkiller, heroin, and other opioid-based drug use disorders. There are also 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 402 people in Louisiana needed treatment for illicit substance abuse, 489,000 required treatment for an alcohol use disorder, and 723,000 needed treatment for a diagnosed substance use disorder.

• Drug deaths increased 16% from 23.8 to 27.5 deaths per 100,000 population in Louisiana between 2017 and 2019
• Adults who avoided care due to treatment cost decreased 34% from 17.6% to 11.6%in Louisiana between 2016 and 2020
• Louisiana saw a 48% increase in drug overdose deaths during the 2020 calendar year

Much like the rest of the country, Louisiana has many people who struggle every day with substance abuse disorders and addiction. Thankfully, there are rehab centers across Louisiana that offer treatment options for multiple addictions. These include free and state-funded rehabs as well as those covered by Medicaid and health insurance plans.

Some of the most common forms of addiction and substance abuse that are treated in Louisiana include:

• Stimulant addiction (meth, cocaine, Adderall, etc)
• Alcohol addiction
• Opioid addiction (heroin, fentanyl, painkillers)
• Benzodiazepine addiction (Xanax, valium, etc)
• Behavioral addiction (porn, gambling, social media, etc)
• Inhalant abuse (whippets, glue, etc)

The Office of Behavioral Health under the Louisiana Department of Health offers treatment and recovery programs and services to individuals dealing with drug addiction, alcohol, or gambling. They also offer support to their families and friends of those battling addiction. 

Some treatment programs include withdrawal management, Opiate treatment programs, residential care, and recovery homes. Their services are family and evidence-based to be effective in the long run. 

You can reach out to them via Healthy Louisiana at 1-855-229-6848.