When looking for an addiction treatment center in Maine, there are a plethora of options available to choose from. Tucked in the furthest corner of the Northeast, this mountain-covered region happens to be the most north and most east state in the country. It is known for its wild moose and reindeer, magnificent ski slopes, as well as being the setting of Charlotte’s Web and many Stephen King novels. Maine is mostly quite and serene, yet this hides a deadly and ugly undercurrent of drug addiction. America’s painkiller epidemic has hit New England especially hard, and Maine is caught in the midst of it.

Drug Treatment Center Options in Maine

By a huge factor, Maine has a more serious problem with opiates than any other drug. To put this in perspective, non-heroin opiates accounted for 3,500 admissions into rehab centers in 2010; meanwhile, there were less than 1,000 admissions for marijuana and about 400 for cocaine. Altogether, opiates (heroin as well as prescription painkillers) make up three quarters of Maine’s drug treatment admissions.

Hydrocodone, sold under the brand name Vicodin and also known as “Vikes” or “Flying Vs”, is the most popular painkiller in Maine. Other common drugs are oxycodone (Oxycontin and Percocet), as well as Dilauded and Fentanyl. This latter painkiller often comes in the form of a skin patch and is known to be 100 times more powerful than morphine. While all of these are safe and legal if used with a prescription, they are neither when abused outside a doctor’s orders. Moreover, they can be more accessible than “street drugs.” Prescription forgery and “doctor shopping” are common ways to access painkillers. In fact, many addicts simply steal from family or friends to whom painkillers are prescribed.

Prescription Drug Abuse Leads to Heroin Abuse

Drug addiction is a serious condition that threatens everyone around it. Addicts will often resort to extreme measures such as theft, burglary or prostitution. Their habit is indeed expensive; at as much as one dollar per milligram, painkillers can cost thousands in only a week’s time. Because of this, as well as recent efforts to combat pill abuse, many in Maine have turned to heroin. Those who live in the rural parts of Maine are mostly at risk because pills are inaccessible. The dangers of heroin are well-known: blood diseases, HIV and AIDS, as well as the pain and suffering brought on by addiction.

If you or someone you know has a problem with drugs or alcohol, don’t wait to get help! Call 877-968-6682 today!