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The State of Addiction, Treatment and Recovery in North Carolina

There is no part of the world where addiction to a substance is not a problem. In the United States, there is a lot of drug use and addiction from coast to coast. The biggest difference from state to state is what type of drugs are most prevalent, because geographical features of the state as well as population density both play a role in what drugs see most use.



Prevalence of Substance Abuse in North Carolina

There are a number of causes that can affect the number of individuals that are addicted to illicit substances, but none can be as profound as the availability of a large variety of drugs and other illegal substances. Identifying where these drugs, such as methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin, are distributed is one of the first steps in battling rising addiction rates. Other drugs that North Carolina faces include Marijuana and the family of drugs, such as GHB and MDMA, known collectively as club drugs.


  • Methamphetamine (more commonly called meth) is seeing a rise in the number of users, becoming more and more popular among drug users. The fact that meth can be manufactured anywhere in North Carolina where there is sufficient space and sufficient talent has led to a proliferation of drug laboratories that have yet to be found, and a market for individuals with chemistry know how.
  • The interstate highway is a major corridor for the import of cocaine into the state, leading to a wide proliferation of the drug. From rural areas to the larger urban centers in the state, cocaine can be easily found by its users wherever they may be in North Carolina.
  • Heroin is not as prevalent as other illicit substances, but there are a few areas where heavy users can be found. In areas like Durham, Greenville, High Point and Rocky Mount, there are small groups of dealers and their users that have been reported.
  • Marijuana, or more colloquially pot, can be found from a large number of sources, some of which are supplied from Mexico. It's availability in North Carolina is widespread and abundant. Supply is first met by the drug being smuggled across the Mexican border, from which it is brought up to North Carolina to be repackaged and sold to users. Marijuana has a large market for use as it is perceived to be a safer alternative to other drugs.
  • Club drugs, such as LSD (also known as acid), GHB (the date rape drug) and MDMA (also known as ecstasy), are another problem that the state faces in its battle against drug use. With over 50 higher education centers, colleges and universities in the state, the proliferation of club drugs, including the big three already mentioned, is fueled by sheer size of the market of potential users, which only leads to a proliferation of the number of dealers.

Substance Abuse Statistics in North Carolina

Statistics can say a lot about the state of addiction, treatment and recovery in the state of North Carolina. For example, in 2001 there were 502 drug arrests, but in 2002 there were only 316. This number went down to 215 in 2003, then up to 270 in 2004 and 407 in 2005, which would suggest that drug use is on the rise in the state. The number of meth lab seizures in North Carolina has been on the rise between 2001 and 2005, going from a mere 32 in 2001 to a surprising 322 in 2005. It is believed that as of 2006 there were approximately 32,999 people who were abusing a substance such as drugs or alcohol in the state of North Carolina, with 10,754 of those being alcohol abuse cases and the remainder drug abuse cases such as addiction to cocaine, marijuana, meth or heroin for example.



What these types of statistics tell us is that drug use is on the rise in North Carolina, and something has to be done to slow it down or stomp it out all together. Addiction treatment facilities such as drug rehabilitation centers are designed to help alleviate this problem, but they can only do so for individuals that are willing to ask for help. If you are struggling with a substance abuse or addiction problem of any kind, then you need to find a drug rehab facility that can address your specific issues so that you can stamp out the problem and move on with your life without the hold of drugs or alcohol.