Find Utah Rehabs and Addiction Treatment

Utah is a state renowned for its beauty, being home to the Mighty Five national parks, and its strong community values rooted in faith. The state has seen an increase in opioid-related overdoses, particularly involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl.

As such, Utah offers a full range of residential and community-based services aimed at supporting individuals struggling with substance misuse. Rehabilitation providers offer specialist programs such as medically supervised detoxification and treatment for co-occurring mental health conditions. Many accredited addiction rehabilitation services in the state are also funded and run by faith groups.

Utah prioritizes prevention and illicit drug enforcement measures when it comes to addressing the challenges presented by the opioid epidemic. The state has used federal grants through programs such as the State Opioid Response to increase access to treatment and fund prevention programs. Utah continues to adapt its approach to tackling the impact of substance addiction.

Utah has a population of 3,503,613 people. The most recent data from the 2023-2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that approximately 324,000 people over the age of 12 had used illegal substances in the past month, around 9.25% of the population. 297,000 reported marijuana use in the past month and 444,000 in the past year.

The report also found that 32,000 Utah residents had used cocaine in the past year, 26,000 had used meth, and 74,000 had misused prescription pain medication. 7,000 people over the age of 18 reported using heroin in the last year. Those reporting opioid misuse, including heroin, painkillers, and fentanyl, in Utah totaled 70,000 people.

Regarding alcohol consumption, 138,522 million Americans aged 12 and over drink alcohol, with 28.320 million (20.4%) of them having an alcohol use disorder. Tobacco or nicotine products, including vapes, are used by 57,277 million people. 25.4% of illegal drug users have a drug disorder, and within this group, 24.7% have an opioid disorder, encompassing both prescription pain relievers and heroin.^[1]

Compared to these numbers, illicit drug use in Utah stands at 11.53%, lower than the national average. Illegal drug use is 5.86% in the 12 to 17 age range.^[2]

However, misusing prescription medicine is a commonplace addiction both in the US and Utah. Opioid use disorder stands at 1.73% for the 18+ age group and 0.43% for the 12-17 range.^[2]

The most commonly used substances in Utah are alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. The most recent statistics show the following consumption rates:

• Marijuana: 14.35% for the 18+ age group and 6.16% for the 12-17 age group.
• Cocaine: 1.34% for the 18+ age group and 0.59% for the 12-17 age range.
• Heroin: 0.27% for the 18+ age group.
• Methamphetamine: 0.99% for the 18+ age range and 0.10% for the 12-28 age range.
• Opioids: 3.28% for the 18+ age group and 1.48% for the 12-17 age group.
• Tobacco: 15.30% for the 18+ group, with 11.22% using cigarettes. 1.84% of the 12-17 age group use tobacco products, while 1.71% use cigarettes specifically.

Alcohol misuse was also reported in Utah, with 789,000 people over the age of 12 saying they had used alcohol in the last month and 377,000 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 1,393,000 people.

The latest data from 2021 indicates that drug overdoses claimed the lives of an estimated 106,699 individuals, with approximately 69% of these victims being male. The states experiencing the highest rates of overdose deaths are West Virginia, Tennessee, and Louisiana. This crisis is largely attributed to the increasing misuse of opioids, including prescription medications, heroin, and synthetic options like fentanyl.^[3]

Drug overdose deaths are up 30% year-over-year, with over 96,700 victims annually and almost a million casualties since 1999. 72% of those deaths are attributable to opioids in the US.^[4]

Overdose mortality is lower in Utah compared to the rest of the nation. In 2021, the death rate per 100,000 population in Utah was 21.1, up from 18.9 in 2019 but down from 22.4 in 2014.^[5]

The NSDUH report also recorded the total number of substance use disorders in Utah and those who currently require treatment. The report found that approximately 358,000 were recorded as having a substance use disorder (SUD) and 204,000 had an alcohol use disorder. 48,000 people were recorded as having an OUD, including those with painkiller, heroin, and other opioid-based drug use disorders.

The NSDUH report also measures the gap between the people who need SUD treatment and those who actually receive it. It found that 423,000 people in Utah were classified as needing treatment in the past year, 91,000 received treatment for an SUD, and 327,000 did not receive the treatment they were classified as needing.

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services, through the Office of Substance Use and Mental Health (SUMH), offers prevention, treatment, and recovery services to Utah residents.

SUMH oversees the services given by treatment facilities to individuals struggling with mental health issues, addiction to alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.

Other responsibilities include monitoring and evaluating mental health and substance abuse services through annual site reviews and reviewing outcome data with the appropriate stakeholders.

So you can be sure that the facilities you go to for treatment are providing their services in accordance with the law. SUMH is also responsible for providing assistance and training to local authorities to help evaluate the effectiveness of prevention and treatment programs in Utah.

On their website, you can learn more about prevention measures & programs in Utah, recovery resources, and access to substance use disorder treatment data from Utah facilities.

If you or a family member need assistance with drug and alcohol abuse, you can reach SUMH at 801-538-3939, email, fax, or at their headquarters in Salt Lake City.