Kentucky is known for many things, including as of recently, its exceptional drug addiction treatment centers . For most people, Kentucky means coal mines, bourbon and bluegrass music. It means hunting elk and watching college basketball. Kentucky is home to the oldest horse race in the country: the Kentucky Derby. It is the state where both Abraham Lincoln, President of the Union, and Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy, were born. They were born less than one hundred miles and one year apart. And of course, perhaps Kentucky’s greatest claim to fame is Kentucky Fried Chicken, or KFC as you may know it.

And yet, while Kentucky may have finger lickin’ good chicken, it also has its drug and alcohol issues. In addition to large meth problems and cocaine problems, Kentucky is plagued by addiction to heroin and prescription medications. The problem is especially severe in the southeast corner of the state. It is believed that there are around 202,976 marijuana users, 33,261 cocaine addicts, and 1,884 heroin addicts living in Kentucky. Furthermore, it is also estimated that there are 88,886 people abusing prescription drugs.

Prescription Drug Abuse Rampant in Kentucky

Kentucky’s drug problem causes pain and suffering for addicts and everyone around them. Ultimately, addiction can be fatal. One of the deadliest drugs in Kentucky has proven to be Xanax. While it is clinically used to treat anxiety disorders, Xanax has become one of the most misused and abused pharmaceutical drugs. Abuse leads to dependence, which may eventually lead to overdose. In 2012, autopsies revealed Xanax to be the number one culprit in drug overdoses.

Painkillers are another group of pharmaceuticals used in Kentucky. They are highly addictive and can be deadly, especially when used in combination with other drugs such as alcohol. Painkillers such as morphine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, and oxymorphone have commonly been linked to drug overdoses in Kentucky. Recently, Kentucky’s heroin problems have been on the rise as well. Heroin use has risen particularly in urban and rural areas because it is cheaper and more accessible than prescription painkillers.

Drug Treatment Centers Available in Kentucky

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction in Kentucky, you can get them the help they need ASAP. There are hundreds of treatment centers that are equipped to meet your needs. Call and get well today.