Drug abuse in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has a population of 6,984,723 people. The most recent data from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that 1,315,000 people over the age of 12 had abused illegal substances in the past month, around 18.83% of the population. 1,256,000 reported marijuana use in the past month and 1,818,000 in the past year. The report also found that 182,000 Massachusetts residents had abused cocaine in the past year, 68,000 had abused meth, and 272,000 had abused prescription pain medication. 75,000 people over the age of 18 reported using heroin in the last year. Those reporting opioid misuse including heroin, painkillers, and fentanyl in Massachusetts totaled 278,000 people.
Alcohol abuse in Massachusetts
Alcohol misuse was also reported in Massachusetts with 3,417,000 people over the age of 12 saying they had used alcohol in the last month and 1,493,000 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 2,615,000 people.
Drug overdose deaths in Massachusetts
In 2021, Massachusetts saw a total of 2493 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 Massachusetts at 35.7 people per 100,000. The total number of alcohol-related deaths (including overdose and all other causes) was 1005 or 14.4 per 100,000 people.
Addiction treatment statistics in Massachusetts
The NSDUH report also recorded the total amount of substance abuse disorders in Massachusetts and those who currently require treatment. The report found that 1,217,000 were recorded as having a substance use disorder (SUD) and 797,000 had an alcohol use disorder. 142,000 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 503 people in Massachusetts needed treatment for illicit substance abuse, 813,000 required treatment for an alcohol use disorder, and 1,195,000 needed treatment for a diagnosed substance use disorder.
What treatment options are available in Massachusetts?
The first and most crucial step towards recovery is asking for help. addiction is different for everyone and choosing a rehab facility that offers the specific services you need can be challenging. Massachusetts has rehab facilities, support groups, and therapy options that cater to all forms of addiction including inpatient, state-funded, and outpatient rehabs to help your recovery journey.
Here are just some of the treatment options available in Massachusetts:
Self-funded rehab centers in Massachusetts
Residential treatment centers in Massachusetts
Addiction treatment programs for seniors in Massachusetts
Addiction & detox centers for teens and young people in Massachusetts
How do I pay for rehab in Massachusetts?
You can take advantage of numerous options to pay for your treatment even without a private health insurance plan. Most treatment facilities offer state-funded payment options and scholarships; some even accept payment plans to give you the necessary treatment.
They also accept Mass Health plans that cover most health care services. If you aren’t eligible for any of these, you can find facilities in Massachusetts that offer free rehabilitation services. While these centers may not be able to offer certain treatment options or high-end accommodation, they do facilitate evidence-based addiction treatments that are proven to help those with substance use disorders get free of addiction.
Local government assistance
In Massachusetts, the government offers Medicaid, known as Mass Health, to low and medium-income individuals living in the area. The coverage depends on an individual’s age, any pre-existing illnesses, and their employer, among other factors.
Rehab centers that accept MassHealth plans include:
You need to meet specific eligibility requirements like being a legal citizen and a resident of Massachusetts to get access to Mass Health. Mass health helps reduce the financial burden associated with seeking treatment in Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts government also has a Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) to help with the intervention, prevention, treatment, and recovery of individuals dealing with addiction in their family or community.
The BSAS develops and implements addiction prevention policies and programs while funding and monitoring treatment services around the state. They also help provide treatment to individuals without insurance.
The Massachusetts substance use helpline is a public resource to help you find treatment and recovery facilities.