The peach state, Georgia has ranked among the 10 States with the lowest drug abuse and alcohol dependency rates, which have remained at or below the national rates. High school and college age students are often at risk for drug and alcohol experimentation; however, Georgia’s rates for 2005-2006 show that for individuals age 12 to 17 and 18 to 25 were at or below the national rates. However, for those age 26 and older, the rates of prior year drug dependence have shown to be above the national rates.

Georgia has a decent amount of treatment facilities, and the numbers have stayed generally stable. Per the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (NSSATS) in 2006, there were 277 centers; 84 were private nonprofit; 76 private for-profit; and 78 more facilities were owned and ran by the state.

With the rising popularity of meth addiction, the need for outpatient care increased. 80 percent of Georgia’s treatment facilities offered outpatient treatment in their services; 27 percent offered residential care; and 32 programs offered opioid treatment. Georgia reflected a one-day total of 17,848 patients receiving treatment, with 84 percent receiving outpatient care. Of the one-day total, 7 percent were under 18 years old.

Georgia’s number of treatment admissions increased from 30,000 in 1992 to almost 45,000 in 2005. The last 14 years has reflected a consistent decrease in the amount of admissions requiring alcohol treatment. However, there has been an increase in treatment admissions for marijuana and methamphetamine.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues At-A-Glance

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

The number of treatment admissions for alcohol-only declined from over 45 percent in 1992 to

slightly above 21 percent in 2005. However, drug-only admissions increased from 25 percent in 1998 to 46 percent in 2005.

Georgia sustains its low alcohol dependency rate for those requiring treatment but did not receive it in the prior year. The rates for individuals age 12 to 17 who needed treatment but did not seek it have been ranked among the lowest in the country. Consistently, the rates for individuals age 12+, 12-17, and 18-25 have stayed at or below the national rates. However, rates for individuals 26 and over, who did not seek drug treatment during the past year have climbed above the national rate.

With the bevy of dangerous drugs available (prescription and nonprescription), it is all too easy for the rate of psychological disorders to escalate. Depending on the drug, there is a wide range of symptoms to watch for. When a drug has an adverse psychological effect on its users, depression and eating and sleeping disorders are common signs.

Georgia’s rates of major depressive episodes (MDE) have been at or below the national rates for all age groups. Individuals age 18 to 25 have consistently been among the lowest in the country. The rates of serious psychological distresses (SPD) have followed this pattern, staying at or below the national rates. Still, the psychological effects of drugs (as often seen in valium addiction) cannot be denied; help should be sought immediately in these cases.

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Resource: www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov