The problems with alcohol and drug abuse have been present in the city of Roanoke for many years. These are extremely concerning issues that have caused an enormous amount of damage in the community and have taken many lives. There are many alternative types of treatment for someone with substance abuse issues, and one of them is experiential therapy. This can be very beneficial as it allows for the person to engage in different activities that can help them cope with certain issues that may have caused or at least contributed to their addiction. For instance, art therapy, music therapy, or equine therapy can be incorporated into the treatment to make it more comprehensive and help the person develop new skills that may stop them from returning to alcohol and/or drugs in the future. The first step to any rehabilitation would be a drug detox program, followed by outpatient or inpatient treatment.
Drug and Alcohol Abuse in Roanoke, VA
One of the things that are affecting Roanoke is alcohol abuse, and more specifically, alcohol-impaired driving. Actually, between 2014 and 2018, 15 lives were taken by individuals who had too much to drink but decided to get behind the wheel regardless. Additionally, excessive drinking was reported by 17% of the city's adult population in 2017, which is a practice that can lead to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, liver disease, memory problems, and even alcoholism. There were also lots of deaths brought on by the opioid crisis, precisely 39 opioid overdose deaths. Out of these deaths, 26 involved fentanyl and other synthetic opioids (excluding methadone), and 35 involved prescription opioids, according to the LiveStories Catalog. We spoke earlier of different alternative treatment programs for substance abuse, and another type would be wilderness and adventure therapy, which offers the chance for addicts to be fully taken out of their usual environment and gain insight on their life in nature, which is a much more positive environment. This will allow them to engage in activities that will extrovert them and give them their best shot at recovery.
Roanoke's Substance Abuse Prevention Efforts
Treatment services such as the one mentioned earlier, as well as inpatient or outpatient treatment, are extremely helpful in saving lives from addiction. Substance abuse prevention can also do just that, as it can stop addiction before it begins. In Roanoke, a lot of organizations offer prevention services to reduce substance abuse within the community. First, there is the Prevention Council of Roanoke, a coalition that works to identify the issues and behaviors related to substance abuse in the city that affect the health of its residents. The projects they create include research, parental education, and youth empowerment. There is also the Roanoke Area Youth Substance Abuse Coalition, which works to reduce the misuse and abuse by adults and youth, as well as the underage abuse of alcohol, and they do this by educating youth and parents on the subject. Finally, there is the Roanoke Prevention Alliance, and they too work to reduce substance abuse within teens and young adults in the city, and they provide tips on their website on how to speak with you about drug and alcohol abuse. Together, these organizations are doing everything they can with the goal of creating a safe and drug-free environment in Roanoke.
Here is a list of the different services in Roanoke, Virginia. The list can be incomplete so please do not hesitate to contact one of our treatment specialists at 1-800-304-2219.
