Texas faces unique challenges when it comes to drug abuse. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas is in the direct path of cartels looking to traffic illegal substances into the United States. From cocaine to marijuana to heroin, Texas drug statistics show that the state is a popular route for drugs entering the country.
Interestingly, this activity also results in trends in drug treatment admissions along the border that differ from those further north.
Along the Border
Admissions to drug addiction treatment centers funded by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) can tell us a lot about the trends of drug use throughout the state. For example, admissions due to marijuana use are consistently higher along the Texas border than in other parts of the state.
However, admissions for methamphetamine use are almost nonexistent along the U.S.-Mexico border. Texas drug statistics show that the drug of choice in this region tends to be marijuana, followed by heroin and cocaine.
Further North
Admissions to Texas DSHS-funded addiction treatment centers tell a different story about areas of Texas north of the border area. Marijuana does remain the culprit behind the majority of admissions. However, methamphetamine usage is not far behind. In areas north of the border, people seeking treatment for meth abuse is more common than that for heroin.
In fact, most of Texas has largely evaded the worst of the heroin epidemic that’s ravaging states further north. This is because of the prevalence of Mexican Black Tar heroin. This type of heroin makes up the majority of heroin used in Texas. Mexican Black Tar is lower in purity than the heroin found in the northeast. It also doesn’t mix well with fentanyl, which is the synthetic opioid that’s causing increased numbers of overdoses. Notably, when authorities find fentanyl in Texas, it’s more frequently mixed with benzodiazepines and other opiates. Only 3% of Texas heroin deaths involve fentanyl.
What Do These Texas Drug Statistics Mean?
With all of these Texas drug statistics, you may be wondering what it all means. Essentially, the substance abuse situation in Texas is complex. Due to its size and proximity to a drug trafficking hotbed, drug use trends can vary greatly by region. For this reason, there’s no one single solution to Texas’ drug problems.
Help for Drug Addiction at Driftwood Recovery
One way to chip away at the problem of drug abuse in Texas is to encourage users to seek treatment. At Driftwood Recovery, we have the tools to treat everything from prescription drug abuse to methamphetamine abuse. Some of the services we provide for our clients include:
- Dual diagnosis treatment
- Alcohol rehab program
- Group therapy
- Family program
- Trauma therapy
- Yoga therapy
Don’t let Texas drug statistics scare you. Addiction is treatable. You just have to take the brave first step and reach out for help. Call Driftwood Recovery at 866-426-4694 today.
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