Boston Treatment Centers

Unfortunately, despite many community and federal efforts, levels of substance abuse in Boston, MA, continue to rise, particularly with heroin and prescription medication. The statistics continue to paint a very worrying picture, and local, state, and federal authorities are trying to determine how to make a positive change in this. One way they are trying to achieve this is by pushing forward the importance of excellent treatment centers.

Statistics on Substance Abuse in Massachusetts

One of the particular worries in Massachusetts as a whole, is the number of drug overdoses. New statistics have been released showing that, in 2016:

• 1,465 people died of a drug related overdose.
• 73% of the people who died were males.
• 57% of the people who died were between the ages of 25 and 44.
• 81% of the people who died were white Caucasian.
• Boston has one of the worst statistics for overdose deaths, and the number of such deaths continues to rise every year.

Treatment Statistics

Thanks to the intervention efforts by government, community organizations, and local people, a lot of patients have gone through detox and rehab in an effort to combat their addiction. During fiscal year 2014, 85,823 in the state of Massachusetts received treatment for a drug or alcohol addiction problem. About 53% of them reported that heroin was their primary drug and 31.9% reported alcohol to be their primary drug.

Looking specifically at Boston, MA, statistics show that:

• 11,631 sought treatment.
• 56.6% reported heroin abuse.
• 31% reported alcohol abuse.
• 86.2% were unemployed.

Boston, MA Treatment Facilities

A number of treatment facilities exist in Boston, MA, including:

• Bay Cove Human Services, Methadone Services
• Boston Hamilton House Inc, Hamilton Recovery Home
• Boston Public Health Commission, Addiction Services/Acupuncture Clinic
• Boston Public Health Commission, Addiction Services/Outpation Counseling
• Boston Public Health Commission, Narcotic Addiction Clinic Meth Services
• Bridge Over Troubled Waters Inc
• CAB Boston Treatment Center

One thing that sets these services apart is that they all seem to follow the model set by the Boston Public Health Commission, namely that they focus specifically on a certain type of treatment. This includes inpatient and outpatient treatment, dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder treatment, and alternative/holistic treatment.

Additionally, Boston is home to one of the state's specialty drug courts, which focuses particularly on veterans. This is due to the fact that Boston seems to have a particular problem with veterans developing not just substance abuse problems, but also homelessness. Furthermore, it is a known fact that returning veterans are more likely to suffer from a mental health disorder, particularly PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). As such, the government is pushing intervention efforts to ensure these people have the opportunity to detox, and enter rehab to regain control of their lives.

Boston paints a unique picture in both the state and the country, mainly due to the fact that, despite concerted efforts and the existence of various high quality substance abuse treatment options, rates of substance abuse, and rates of related deaths, continue to rise.