Norfolk Treatment Centers

Virginia, like any other part of the country, has problems with drug and alcohol abuse. However, the state takes a unique approach to resolving this problem. Firstly, they complete the biannual report on substance abuse services, which is a requirement on the Virginia code. As part of this report, services are designed to address the specific needs of the population. The state also recognizes that investing in substance abuse treatment means that people can become contributing members of society, leading to a return on investment.

Statistics on Substance Abuse and Addiction in Virginia

According to the last biannual report:

• Rates of binge drinking of alcohol are lower than the national average, but are the highest in the Norfolk region.
• Alcohol dependency in Virginia is as high as the national average, but highest in the Norfolk region.
• 20% of people between the ages of 12 and 25 have some form of alcohol dependency. The young age of these people is of particular concern in the state.
• Illicit drug use in Virginia is lower than the national average. However, in the Norfolk area, it is as high as the national average. The statistics are very similar for those abusing prescription medication.
• 30% of people in Norfolk aged between 12 and 25 have an illicit substance abuse problem, more than those who abuse alcohol, therefore.
• The number of deaths by overdose due to illicit drug use continues to rise each year. However, there has been a decrease in deaths due to prescription drugs, in part thanks to the Prescription Monitoring Program.

Norfolk, VA Intervention Efforts

Virginia as a state is very much aware of the problems that it is facing, which is why there is a code to create the biannual report. As a result of this report, the state has implemented the aforementioned Prescription Monitoring Program, which has so far been very successful. In addition, the state has started the Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) to ensure anyone who needs it can go to rehab for detox and treatment.

The goal of the OTP is to "make lives whole again". The OTP acknowledges that the cost to society as a whole - even to those who do not abuse substances - runs in the millions, as it affects every level of society. As part of the OTP, people with a drug or alcohol problem are evaluated medically and psychologically in order to determine the state of their addiction, and whether they also have co-occurring disorders.

The OTP believes one of the best forms of treatment for opioid addiction, which is a particular problem in Norfolk, VA, is through methadone or other narcotic agonists. The OTP has started its own rehab facility, and they also work together with others in the state to provide help as and where it is required. This treatment also includes, as standard, education about addiction, which is provided not just to the patient, but also to their families and loved ones.

The OTP's approach, which currently focuses particularly on Norfolk, VA, has been shown to be so successful, that other areas in the state, and other states, are considering taking the same approach.