Drug abuse in Virginia

Virginia has a population of 8,642,274 people. The most recent data from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that 1,083,000 people over the age of 12 had abused illegal substances in the past month, around 12.53% of the population. 1,031,000 reported marijuana use in the past month and 1,497,000 in the past year. The report also found that 176,000 Virginia residents had abused cocaine in the past year, 89,000 had abused meth, and 319,000 had abused prescription pain medication. 69,000 people over the age of 18 reported using heroin in the last year. Those reporting opioid misuse including heroin, painkillers, and fentanyl in Virginia totaled 316,000 people.

Alcohol abuse in Virginia

Alcohol misuse was also reported in Virginia with 3,908,000 people over the age of 12 saying they had used alcohol in the last month and 1,799,000 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 3,443,000 people.

Overdose deaths in Virginia

In 2021, Virginia saw a total of 2507 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 Virginia at 29 people per 100,000. The total number of alcohol related deaths (including overdose and all other causes) was 1014 or 11.7 per 100,000 people.

Addiction and treatment in Virginia

The NSDUH report also recorded the total amount of substance abuse disorders in Virginia and those who currently require treatment. The report found that 1,346,000 were recorded as having a substance use disorder (SUD) and 894,000 had an alcohol use disorder. 182,000 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 540 people in Virginia needed treatment for illicit substance abuse, 888,000 required treatment for an alcohol use disorder, and 1,199,000 needed treatment for a diagnosed substance use disorder.

What treatment options are available in Virginia?

Virginia rehab centers provide various treatment options to help curb your addiction to gambling, alcohol, cocaine, and other drugs. The treatment you choose is dependent on your individual needs. 

To help you achieve sobriety, Virginia rehab centers provide inpatient treatment, addiction treatment for teens, treatment for seniors, detoxification, and behavioral therapy to help you control your substance or alcohol use. 

Some top Rehab centers in Virginia are listed below:

Alcohol addiction rehab centers in Virginia

  • Carilion New River Valley Medical Ctr

  • Clinch valley treatment center 

  • Norfolk Community Services Board

  • Bridging the gaps Inc

Opioid Addiction rehab centers in Virginia

  • New season treatment center Southside

  • Hampton VMCA Mental health

  • BHG Newport News Treatment Center

  • Family counseling Center for Recovery 

  • Addiction recovery systems LLC

Rehab centers in Virginia that offer heroin treatment services

  • Chesterfield department of mental health services

  • Colonial behavioral health

  • Daily planet health services

  • Frontier Health Inc

  • Hanover county community services Board

How do I pay for rehab in Virginia?

Specific Virginia rehab centers offer payment assistance to increase the number of people seeking addiction treatment. Almost all centers accept self-pay, meaning you can pay in cash or use a credit card.

If you are not ready to break your bank, you should have a public or private insurance plan to help cover the rehab costs. Some rehab centers accept military insurance to offer treatment services to active duty members and their families.

If you don't qualify for public insurance coverage like Medicaid, you can ask the chosen facility whether they allow payment in installments. 

Virginia also has rehab centers that offer free and low-cost services for addicts with low incomes to help with their recovery.

Government assistance for addiction treatment in Virginia

The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services provides substance Use Disorder Services that offer treatment for substance use, addiction, and mental health issues. Every city in Virginia state has a Virginia Community Services Board (CSBs) that offers these treatment services. 

You can reach the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Development Services for help with addiction at (804) 786-3921.