How Law Enforcement, Health Agencies, and Drug and Alcohol Rehab Centers in Mississippi Are Fighting Opioid Addiction
The country’s opioid epidemic is driven partly by chronic pain, which is resulting in millions of prescriptions for opioid painkillers that offer a high risk for addiction. Presently, Mississippi ranks among the top six states in per capita opioid use and sees an average of 150 opioid overdose deaths per year. Now, representatives from state agencies, law enforcement, and drug and alcohol rehab centers in Mississippi are working together to raise awareness about opioid addiction in an effort to improve the state’s overdose crisis.
If you or someone you care about is addicted to opioids, alcohol, or another substance, understand it’s never too late to get help. Call our 24/7 confidential helpline at 888-414-2380 to learn more about your local rehab options. Our caring addiction specialists will help you find rehab centers that can guide you or your loved one along the path to sobriety and improved health.
The Impact of Opioid Addiction on Mississippi
Heroin trafficking from Chicago into Mississippi is to blame for numerous overdose deaths.
In July this year alone, Mississippi dispensed over 8.3 million hydrocodone pills, which is far above the national average. According to the CDC, hydrocodone and oxycodone are involved in more opioid overdose deaths than any other drug. The CDC also mentions that those who abuse opioid painkillers are 40 times more likely to abuse heroin at some point, which Mississippi leaders are saying is driving heroin-related deaths.
Mississippi law enforcement says many heroin-related deaths are associated with batches of heroin being trafficked into the state from Chicago, and that there were several arrests associated with heroin trafficking last year. As part of their role in improving the state’s opioid epidemic, law enforcement is working with the DEA to host drug take-back events that collect unused prescription drugs from residents.
State health agencies recently started enforcing Mississippi’s Prescription Monitoring Program, which prevents patients from obtaining multiple painkiller prescriptions from multiple doctors. This practice — known as doctor shopping — puts extra, unneeded painkillers in the hands of patients and increases the risk for opioid abuse. Health agencies are also working on developing a special type of opioid that prevents patients from injecting or crushing the pills to obtain a more euphoric high.
Fighting Opioid Addiction at Rehab Centers
Given the nation’s current opioid crisis, more and more rehab centers throughout the state are accepting admissions for new patients who suffer from opioid addiction. Opioid addiction is commonly treated using FDA-approved medications that help addicts avoid drug cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Some rehab centers use alternate therapies to treat opioid addiction, such as detoxification by way of nutrition, exercise, and massage.
In most cases, opioid addiction treatment involves the use of medication and/or detoxification, along with counseling and behavioral therapy that address the root causes of addiction. Patients also receive education on drug abuse and avoiding relapse, and learn the skills needed to cope in situations in which drugs are present following rehab. Rehab centers offer several programs that can be tailored to patients based on their unique treatment needs and preferences.
If you’re addicted to opioids and live in Mississippi, understand you don’t have to fight addiction on your own without help. Call our 24/7 confidential helpline at 888-414-2380 to learn more about drug and alcohol rehab centers in Mississippi that can help you achieve sobriety. Our goal is to provide you with the resources you need to overcome opioid addiction for good.
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