Rockbridge County's county seat is Lexington, and they have both been affected by substance abuse in the last years. This is something that has caused an important amount of damage within the community, and it should be treated as a serious matter. These next statistics will help prove this previous statement, focusing on alcohol abuse. The first thing we will look at is excessive drinking, as in 2017, it was reported by 16% of the county's adult population, according to County Health Rankings. This pattern of drinking can lead to many physical and psychological health problems, such as an irregular heartbeat, vomiting, lung infection, malnutrition, and in certain cases, it can even cause death. In fact, between 2014-2018, there were 9 alcohol-impaired driving casualties, accounting for 21% of the 42 driving deaths which occurred during this period. Treatment is extremely important when someone is seeking help to overcome their addiction to alcohol and other drugs. But for some individuals, being provided with medication to help them get off drugs is not an option. Thankfully, there are holistic programs that can offer drug-free and natural approaches to treatment, so that such people can still get the help they need. A typical holistic program will treat addiction with three main aspects: mind, body, and spirit/soul. This is a comprehensive treatment plan that will help the person find and address the root causes for their addiction, so they can make a full recovery. No matter what program one attends, if they are 100% committed to this process, they can succeed and come out thriving.
