Newport News Treatment Centers

Newport News, Virginia, is home to an estimated 180,719 people, according to the 2010 U.S. Census. It is found in the county of Newport News, and is located around 12 miles outside of Norfolk and 6 miles from Hampton. The population of the city grew by approximately 6% during the 1990s. It has continued to grow since then, although at a slower rate. Unfortunately, as much as Newport News is an idyllic place to live in, it is also has a significant drug and alcohol problem. This is strongly demonstrated in the fact that the levels of violent crimes in Newport News are higher than the state average.

Statistics on Substance Abuse in Newport News, VA

Various pieces of research have been conducted to create a picture of the level of substance abuse in the city. These found that:

• Around 29% of the population aged 12 or above had been initiated to cannabis in the past year. While this seems very high, it has remained unchanged since 2007.
• 6.1% of the youth, aged between 12 and 17, had been initiated to cannabis in the same year. Again, this level has not changed since 2007.
• Only 6.3% of people aged over the age of 12 who require treatment went on to receive it. 24.7% reported that they made an effort to seek treatment, but did not receive it.

The Newport News Approach

Newport News authorities are very much concerned about the levels of drug and alcohol abuse and addiction. They are proud of the city being a good place to live and raise a family, and therefore wish to address its substance abuse problems head on with intervention and treatment strategies. Because there is a positive correlation between drug or alcohol abuse and violent crime, the first step they have taken towards combating this is to launch the Newport News Drug Court. The court has the motto "Changing Lives and Improving Our Community". Those who have come into contact with law enforcement as a result of substance abuse are given the opportunity to seek treatment through detox and rehab facilities for a certain period of time. If they graduate from these programs, their criminal charges are dropped.

At the same time, it is understood that the drug court approach is a reactive function and that more have to be done to stop people from coming into contact with substances in the first place. There is a significant concern about young people first trying cannabis, particularly because it is known to be a gateway drug. In response, the city has launched a number of early initiative problems to encourage young people and the community to choose healthy alternatives.

Lastly, the city is concerned about the low number of people who seek and find treatment. As such, they have endeavored to make more information available about the various drug and rehab facilities that are available in and around the city. By offering people easier access to treatment, Newport News aims to help those who are suffering from the disease of addiction but who have not yet had any brush with the law.