Kentucky Drug Statistics The Devastation Caused by Drug Addiction

Drug addiction can affect many lives, not just the person who is addicted to it. When the addicts are on drugs, they are not thinking, acting or presenting themselves like normal human beings. In Kentucky, this type of behavior is seen daily in many drug abusers. Devastation caused by drug addiction and those who abuse drugs is witnessed by families, friends and communities in which the drug abuser lives. The drugs that cause addiction are not the only thing at fault though. It is the source of the drugs, the lack of awareness and the ability of residents to look the other way that adds to the Kentucky drug statistics.

When it comes to drugs, the devastation is severe. Families are ripped apart as drug addiction tends to cause problems in marriages with adults, school with kids and overdoses in youth. Additionally, communities are destroyed when drug abusers commit violent acts and innocent bystanders get killed in drive by shootings or drug turf wars. The drug issue in the state of Kentucky does not seem to be getting any better either despite efforts from law enforcement agencies and government officials. In fact, the current statistics show that drugs are increasing in sales, production and abuse in Kentucky. Drugs are also very easy to get as they are present in large amounts in Kentucky. The drugs stand as a very big issue for Kentucky.

Drugs found to be present in the state as reported by the Kentucky drug statistics are meth, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, prescription narcotics and club drugs. More commonly in the rural parts of the state, the manufacture, sale and use of meth has grown significantly as well as the violent crime linked to it.

Meth is one drug in Kentucky that has seen the quickest rise. The production, distribution and use of this drug has rapidly spread throughout the entire state and statistics make it very evident. In 1998 until 2000, there was a 42% rise in the number of meth drug treatment admissions, a number that no other drug could compare to. The main source for the meth in Kentucky are the Mexican drug cartels that traffic the drug and sell it in large wholesale amounts to smaller dealers within the state. Although the meth is typically made in Mexico and other states, authorities are seeing an increase in the amount being made in Kentucky lately. The proof is in the amount of meth labs that are being busted within the state being more than what they used to. There were in fact so many meth labs present during the years 1998 to 2000, so much so that police could not handle them all due to lack of skilled staff. An increase in meth lab numbers also means an increase in use.

Cocaine is a rather big threat in larger cities because abuse is very high. It is becoming more and easier to get, it is being produced more and abuse is increasing rapidly. Cocaine is also associated with a high level of violent crime. Cocaine is actually the biggest threat in large cities found in the state of Kentucky. Cocaine drug treatment admissions were up and down during 1998 to 2000 however, crack drug treatment admissions rose by 31% at the same time.

Marijuana is also a significant threat in Kentucky due to it being the most used drug as well as the most available in the state. In addition, the state of Kentucky holds a large amount of the cultivation sites that supply the entire country. Around half of the total treatment admissions to drug rehab centers during 1998 to 2000, were for the use of marijuana.

Prescription narcotics are present in Kentucky as well as club drugs like ecstasy and GHB. Hallucinogens are also increasingly available, present and used in the state. Although, heroin is not seen as a great threat in Kentucky for abuse or production.

The fact remains that the Kentucky drug statistics are not seeing much change in a positive way. Residents actually hold part of the responsibility to help the numbers decrease in their communities. All too often though, the rising drug abuse issue is ignored. It might be the neighbor that is always seen in the street buying/ selling drugs or the many people coming and going from the house across the street and even the drug deal that occurs in the parking lot at the local food store. These things are all issues that are commonly turned away from because residents are too scared to do anything about it. The whole thing is though that if there is never anything done about it, the problem will just grow and grow until the destruction completely takes over and no one is safe from the effects of drugs. It can be as simple as a phone call to stop the destruction. It can also be a phone call that saves someones life. This phone call can be to local police departments or for someone who is abusing drugs, it can be to the nearest drug treatment center.

If you are a drug abuser and desperately need help, there is somewhere you can go. There are people that you can confide in. You do not have to be scared that someone will notice you or that someone will look down upon you for going either. Drug treatment centers will actually make you look good because this shows that you are at least trying to fight the drug abuse battle and you are going all in to do so.

The truth is, as you keep using drugs you tend to want more of them. The high gets weaker and requires more and more drugs to obtain it. The prices become outrageous and its very tiring trying to come up with new ways to scam or rob money from someone. It is also very lonely and depressing when you feel like there is no one you can trust or who understands you. There is still help for you though and now is the perfect time for you to meet the people who have been looking and waiting for you for a long while. These people want to help you get off the drugs. They want to give you all the support and advice you need to quit. These people are the staff at the drug treatment centers in Kentucky and they want you to live a better quality life free from drugs. The devastation stops today.