Grand Prairie Treatment Centers

Grand Prairie, TX, like any other place in the country, has a significant problem with drug and alcohol abuse. Of particular concern is the level of underage drinking, which seems to be reaching record highs every year. As such, a focus of local authorities is strongly on curbing young people's access to and perceived enjoyment of alcoholic substances.

Underage Drinking Statistics in Grand Prairie

• 68% of high school students have used alcohol during their lives, and 33% currently use it.
• 23% of high school students report binge drinking.
• 68% of high school students feel it is easy to obtain alcohol, particularly at parties and from friends.
• 49% of high school students report going to parties where alcohol is used.
• 11% of high school students state that their parents neither disapprove or approve of their drinking. 8% report not knowing their parents' opinion.

Of particular concern in Grand Prairie is the fact that young people seem to be unaware of the dangers of alcohol. This is why, as part of a city-wide intervention, information and outreach programs have been made available to increase the understanding of young people. Specifically, they are told that:

• Alcohol is a gateway drug, with young people who drink being 7.5 times more likely to use illicit drugs, 22 times more likely to use cannabis, and 50 times more likely to use cocaine.
• Alcohol kills 650% more young people than any other substance put together.
• There is a strong correlation between alcohol and fighting, violence, academic failure, negative attitudes, and poor health.
• In over 50% of cases of homicide, the victim and/or the perpetrator were under the influence of alcohol.

Help for Drug and Alcohol

Because there is such a significant problem with underage drinking in Grand Prairie, a lot of work is also being done on not just preventing it, but providing help for those who have already started on the road of substance abuse and addiction. Help is available for the entire population, regardless of age.

In treatment centers, which include private and state-sponsored facilities, people start by going through a period of detox. With alcohol in particular, it is very important that detox is medically monitored, as the side effects of withdrawal have the potential to be deadly. Following detox, patients are encouraged to enter rehab. Both inpatient and outpatient rehab facilities exist in Grand Prairie.

Once in rehab, people are provided with counseling that is tailored to their individual needs. It is age appropriate, but also culturally sensitive, and emphatic of the particular mental health needs of the patient. It is common for a co-occurring disorder to be present, which must be treated as a continuum of the addiction. Because addiction is a disease, Grand Prairie residents are encouraged to attend inpatient rehab, where they can receive intensive care for a longer duration. However, whether they attend inpatient or outpatient treatment, they are then provided with intensive aftercare as well, including therapy, counseling, support groups, 12 step meetings, sober living facilities, and more.