Drug abuse in Texas

Texas has a population of 29,527,941 people. The most recent data from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that 2,405,000 people over the age of 12 had abused illegal substances in the past month, around 8.14% of the population. 2,188,000 reported marijuana use in the past month and 3,477,000 in the past year. The report also found that 337,000 Texas residents had abused cocaine in the past year, 337,000 had abused meth, and 877,000 had abused prescription pain medication. 121,000 people over the age of 18 reported using heroin in the last year. Those reporting opioid misuse including heroin, painkillers, and fentanyl in Texas totaled 909,000 people.

Alcohol abuse in Texas

Alcohol misuse was also reported in Texas with 11,641,000 people over the age of 12 saying they had used alcohol in the last month and 5,878,000 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 11,685,000 people.

Overdose deaths in Texas

In 2021, Texas saw a total of 4688 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 Texas at 15.9 people per 100,000. The total number of alcohol-related deaths (including overdose and all other causes) was 3540 or 12 per 100,000 people.

Texas addiction treatment statistics

The NSDUH report also recorded the total amount of substance abuse disorders in Texas and those who currently require treatment. The report found that 3,994,000 were recorded as having a substance use disorder (SUD) and 2,940,000 had an alcohol use disorder. 618,000 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 1,544 people in Texas needed treatment for illicit substance abuse, 2,875,000 required treatment for an alcohol use disorder, and 3,542,000 needed treatment for a diagnosed substance use disorder.

What treatment options are available in Texas?

There are a lot of treatment options available in Texas. Most centers provide typical services like detox assistance, and inpatient and outpatient programs, while some do offer more specified methods like Christian drug rehabs. Finding interventions most suited to individual cases will help alleviate the pressure that comes with recovery.

  • Residential treatment & inpatient rehab – this type of treatment is ideal for those suffering from extreme symptoms related to substance abuse. Staying within a monitored facility will prevent individuals from re-engaging in an environment that allows access to the substance involved. It is also a safer space to go through detox, under the care of professionals and lifesaving equipment. Inpatient and residential rehab are quite similar but differ in intensity.

  • Outpatient rehab – places that offer inpatient service typically have outpatient treatment too. With this, clients have more independence over their treatment, regarding frequency and commitment to the recovery process.

  • Christian drug rehab – people who seek faith-based interventions might suit Christian drug rehab, as it integrates religion in their substance abuse treatment program. This is done alongside usual rehabilitation plans.

  • Gender-specific treatment – this was developed to address different addiction experiences between genders, largely considering the major dissimilarities of why and how individuals abuse substances.

  • Substance-specific treatment – facilities that treat specified substance addictions. Beyond drug abuse centers, there are also alcohol rehabs in Texas that have specialized treatment programs.

How do I pay for rehab in Texas?

Some people cite the lack of funds and resources as a reason to not seek help with their addiction. This concern is perfectly valid, but delaying treatment for substance abuse will prove to be detrimental as time passes. People can opt to get treatment through self-funding; it is less complicated, though it does put the brunt of expenses on their shoulders.

Private health insurance makes addiction treatment in Texas more affordable, plus has the advantage of in-network connections through the insurance provider. Some health/insurance providers may help by adjusting treatment fees based on the financial situation, called sliding-scale fees, making the cost more feasible for clients.

Some rehabs in Texas accept Medicaid insurance, perfect for those without private insurance. However, not all facilities take Medicaid, so it’s advisable to check before acquiring their services.

What are common drug addictions in Texas?

The most common substances abused in Texas are marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin. These four have topped reports in previous years, followed by other opioids like Fentanyl. Methamphetamine has continuously been the biggest drug threat in the state and is still rising in numbers. The prevalence and continuous rise of meth abuse have led to comprehensive drug rehabs in Texas.

How do you know if you need addiction treatment?

It’s difficult to recognize an addiction problem until rock bottom is hit, at which point, individuals will have lost so much in their life before receiving treatment. Some lose money, cut relationships, and drop their responsibilities before realizing the problem. To avoid this, it’s best to identify the issue before it becomes too big.

The most obvious factors are the inability to refrain from using the substance in question, developing tolerance towards the substance, and experiencing withdrawal when going without it. There is a criterion for addiction that may help people identify the severity of their behavior. Consult a professional to get an official diagnosis.

Government assistance for addiction treatment in Texas

The Texas Health and Human Services (THHS) department has a service called Outreach, Screening, Assessment, and Referral (OSAR) designed to help people who are unable to pay for rehab. It may include detoxification, outpatient rehab, psychiatric treatment, etc. This service has limited availability, and some individuals may be prioritized based on a criterion. Some priority markers for those with addiction are the following:

  • Teenagers diagnosed with Substance Use Disorder (SUD), aged 13 to 17 years

  • Individuals referred by the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), admit within 72 hours

  • Those evaluated as high risk for overdose, admitted within 72 hours

  • Pregnant individuals, admit within 48 hours

  • People who consumed substances through injection, admit within 14 days

This department also has mental health crisis hotline numbers posted on its website, collating lifeline numbers for different Local Mental Health Authorities (LMHA) and the counties served across the state.

The THHS partners with services and rehabs near Texas to provide these functions.