Did you know that in Colorado one person dies of a drug overdose every 9 hours and 36 minutes? This is just one of the many startling facts when it comes to addiction in The Centennial State. Here we take a look at some others:
- According to a recent survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Colorado stands out as the only state that has problems with the four major intoxicants: marijuana, alcohol, cocaine and opioids (prescription painkillers and heroin).
- Deaths from drug overdoses in Colorado are reaching a crisis level. Not only does the state’s death rate from overdose top the national average, but those numbers have increased across the state.
- A total of 912 people in Colorado died from overdoses in 2016, a record, according to state health department data. Of those, 300 died from an opioid overdose and heroin claimed another 228 lives.
- One study said Colorado has the third-most-serious drug problem of any state, with the highest percentage of both teenage and adult drug users in the country. Nearly one-third of residents in certain counties are drinking what is considered to be unsafe levels.
- A national survey estimated that 128,000 people in Colorado, or 3 percent, abused or became dependent on illicit drugs in 2014, and only 19,000 received treatment, according to a major state report. The number of Colorado residents admitted for treatment for prescription opioid abuse in Colorado, however, has more than tripled, increasing from 305 in 2000 to 1,062 in 2008.
Treating Addiction in Boulder and DenverIf you or a loved one suffers from a substance use disorder, NorthStar Transitions can help. Our treatment programs combine top clinical care with an inspirational environment to help people of all ages step into a life of recovery that’s more rewarding than they could have imagined during the depths of their abuse. To learn more, call today: 303-625-6335.
