Alaska - Heroin Drug Rehab Facts, Trends, and Needs

Heroin abuse and addiction is not only a problem for Alaska, but drug addiction has remained a serious problem across the United States for quite some time, emphasizing the need for effective drug rehab.

Heroin abuse and addiction is not a new problem. In fact, opiate use dates far back in history. With the purity of today's heroin, its low price, and the recent tendency to mix heroin with other substances such as fentanyl (often without the user's knowledge), heroin is more deadly and addictive than ever. As heroin is now cheaper and purer than ever, it is now more accessible to young people. Purer heroin can  be smoked or snorted while less pure heroin must be injected intravenously. With no need for needles, some drug users are more willing to try heroin and may feel they will be able to avoid addiction with these methods of use.

Methadone is a synthetic opiate that is often turned to by heroin addicts as maintenance treatment. However, methodone is NOT a viable solution. Most methadone and heroin users develop a tolerance for the drug and must increase their dosage to either get the same high (with heroin) or stably avoid withdrawal problems (with methadone). In addition, methadone is more addictive and more powerful than heroin and is accompanied by a much more violent withdrawal period. The effects and cravings of methadone addiction last beyond the initial withdrawal stage. Physical cravings for the drug may last several months after usage ceases. Discoveries in the late 1970's show that drug residuals are stored in the fatty tissue of the body and remain there for years, getting released back into the bloodstream when those fat cells are converted to energy. Fat cells may be burned any time a person's heart rate increases, for example, from either stress or exercise. Therefore drug cravings may kick in at any time, sometimes years after the last use.

Narconon Arrowhead uses the New Life Detoxification Program to release these stored drugs and toxins to the fullest extent possible, with many participants reporting an end to all drug cravings. 

Before looking at some state facts for Alaska in terms of heroin addiction lets first look at a few relevant national trends:

• Use of heroin rose from 136,000 in 2005 to 338,000 in 2006 showing an astronomical resurgence in the use of heroin.
• In 2006 there were 91,000 persons aged 12 or older who used heroin for the first time with an average age of 20.7!
• Most heroin addicts (74 percent) have been in treatment for their addiction more than once, with 24 percent having been in treatment five or more times!  

Alaska need and demand for heroin drug rehab treatment shown in studies

The following tables give an idea of the heroin problem in Alaska. The first gives an idea of those needing drug treatment for 2005.

Alaska primary heroin admissions aged 12 and older

Nationally, admissions to treatment for heroin addiction increased by 12 percent from 1995 to 2005.  One bright note is, however, that in the same time period, medication-assisted opioid therapy (methadone, etc.) decreased by 26 percent. Narconon Arrowhead is a drug-free treatment method and applauds the decrease in use of substitute drugs which can be more harmful and addictive than those they seek to replace. With the correct treatment modalities, there is usually no need for these replacement therapies and an individual can become truly drug-free!

Click on Healing Addicted Lives to download this free booklet and read about the mechanics of addiction. You will be able to eliminate some preconceived ideas you may have concerning addiction, alcoholism and their successful treatment. 

Narconon Arrowhead is one of the largest and most successful drug rehabilitation and education programs in the country, successfully bringing to an end the dwindling spiral of addiction. The Narconon program helps the individual rehabilitate lost hopes and dreams and then helps the individual restore his or her life skills and increase personal motivation so they are in good shape to achieve these goals.

People seeking rehabilitation at Narconon Arrowhead often have previously tried more traditional treatment methods and have failed, thus leaving them with little hope that they could beat their addiction. However, the Narconon® Drug Rehabilitation Program consistently achieves a success rate of approximately 70 percent. 

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