Michigan Drug Statistics Fighting the Drug Battle

Drugs have a way of taking over someones life and turning it completely upside down. It starts with the individual who abuses the drugs. The person most often has a life altering circumstance that makes them turn to the drugs in the first place. Once they are using the drugs, they become depressed because most drugs are downers which dampens the persons mental status and way of thinking. The person unaware of why they are feeling depressed, decides that they need more drugs to keep the depression at bay and hence, they use more and more to stay happy. Before the drug abuser realizes it, they are too deep into it and addiction has set in. There is little that people surrounding the drug abuser can do to convince them that the drugs are bad and they will rebel against anyone who tries. This is when the devastation starts with drug use. Families are ripped apart because no one can understand what is going on with the drug abuser or they tire of wasted efforts to stop the drug use. Jobs are lost because the drug abuser loses the ability to focus or remain sober long enough to be present for work. Communities suffer when drugs cause death and crime within the cities. Although this is seen all over the world, Michigan currently faces a high rate of crime associated to drug use and the Michigan drug statistics are continually rising.

There are many reasons why drugs are allowed to take over in a state. It is partly due to the residents failure to do anything to stop it although, it is not easy to just stop the presence or use of drugs. It takes a great amount of effort from not just the families, friends and loved ones involved with the drug abuser but also the communities and law enforcement agencies in order to even put a dent in the drug statistic numbers.

Drugs have a major presence in the state of Michigan. Drug traffickers transport drugs like cocaine, marijuana, meth and heroin in large wholesale amounts throughout the state. When the drugs are sold to street level drug dealers, they reach residents in unprecedented numbers. This further adds to the problem of drug abuse in the state of Michigan.

According to the statistics, marijuana is the drug most abused in the state. The drug has no preference either as to who it chooses to make its victim. There are young, middle aged and elderly pot smokers as well as all types of ethnic backgrounds. The drug is often trafficked in through the northern parts of the state coming from Canada. The marijuana grown in Canada is typically more potent than any other kind found in the state because it is grown indoors using special machines and substances that make it stronger. This means that more people want it and this creates the supply and demand chain. The majority of the people who abuse marijuana dont feel as though it is a dangerous drug although, they are mistaken. Marijuana causes both physical and mental destruction to the person who abuses it. Drug treatment admissions for marijuana in the state of Michigan show that besides alcohol, it is the number one reason for admissions in the state which shows a very high amount of use. The numbers indicate that somewhere close to 20% of all drug treatment admissions in the state are due to the use of marijuana.

Cocaine is another big contributor to the Michigan drug statistics. This is particularly true with the more potent and highly addictive form of cocaine called crack. Cocaine is available throughout the state in very high amounts and is also highly abused. Purity levels of the drug are said to range from 40 to 90% in the state. Both wholesale and retail amounts of cocaine are available in Michigan as well. The purity level does not hold much factor in the level of addiction with cocaine though. The addiction is still very high and very dangerous to the abuser and the communities. The cocaine addict can suffer effects of cocaine that cause trouble with blood systems, mental stability and cardiac issues. There are many deaths associated with cocaine use every year in Michigan. During 2001 alone, there were 406 people that had been using cocaine at their time of death as reported from the medical examiner in just one county in the state of Michigan. During the following year, there were 417 people of the same circumstance. Furthermore, in Detroit alone, there were over 12,000 people that visited the emergency room due to cocaine use.

Drugs also have a high rate of crime associated with them and Michigan drug statistics hold proof. During the year 2005, one countys police department held reports that nearly 3,000 people were arrested for some type of drug violation. In total, the state holds a report of more than 60,000 people arrested each year for some type of substance abuse. The substance abuse does not stop there either.

There are over 10 million people living in the state of Michigan. Of these people, 734,000 of them said that they have used an illicit drug once in their life. These numbers are high, but they are rising even. This means that if nothing is done, in a few years these numbers could double or even triple bringing with them more death and destruction within the communities.

There is an effective way to fight the drug abuse battle although it takes a joint effort in order for it to be successful. Drug treatment centers offer many great services to the drug abuser in need. Dedication along with support offers a very high chance that the drug abuser can get off the drugs and live a more complete life without the drugs. If you or someone you know needs drug treatment in Michigan, you can help to do your part to lower the drug statistics in the state by seeking help right away. It is not just beneficial to the state, community and your loved ones, it is also beneficial to your health and well being.