The Drug Situation in Vermont
In 1996 Vermont became one of the first states to allow patients suffering from debilitating health conditions to use marijuana for medicinal purposes. In the year 2000 methadone became legal. The state rules governing the use of methadone came to an end in 2004. The state of Vermont now must comply with looser regulations at a federal level. These guidelines allow for methadone clinics and patients are permitted to take the methadone home with them.Many drugs are common in Vermont, although methamphetamine (otherwise known as crystal meth) is not terribly common at the present time. Heroin use is a big problem on the other hand. Often mixed with substances such as fentanyl, heroin is deadlier and more addictive than it has ever been. Part of its allure, particularly to young people is that it is also cheap and in some cases more pure than ever. The purest forms of heroin are often smoked or snorted while the less pure variety is still injected into a vein by intravenous means.
National Trends
-The resurgence of heroin’s popularity is very obvious to see- the use of the drug rose from 136,000 in 2005 to 338,000 in the following year.
-People at younger and younger ages are experimenting with heroin. An estimated 91,000 individuals from the age of 12 years and up tried the drug for the first time in 2006. The average age of a first time user was 20.7.
-The majority of those addicted to heroin (approximately 74 percent), go into treatment more than once. For example, 24 percent have received treatment at least five times if not more.
In order to stop the downward spiral of one’s life as a result of heroin abuse, it is essential to receive effective drug rehab and addiction treatment in the state of Vermont. When rehabilitation is done properly the first time it should be effective at building a drug free future for the patient. If you need help because of a heroin addiction or any type of drug addiction, research your options and then rest assured that help is close at hand.
