Substance Abuse in Washington D.C.

The capital of the U.S., Washington D.C., has long been plagued by a variety of drug problems. While one might make this statement about anywhere in the country, or even the world, the level of drug and alcohol abuse in the District surpasses on many levels the rates of addiction in other states. Additionally, D.C. boasts one of the highest rates in the country of people who need help for substance abuse addiction, but don't seek treatment. And this is the most important thing to do; seeking treatment at a recovery or rehab center is the best way to break the power of addiction. The Mark Houston Recovery Center offers a 90-day residential program for men in the wilderness near Austin, Texas. With our program, we teach the necessary life skills needed to adapt to a life of sobriety, provide a healthy diet and exercise for those in the program, and have our residents learn how to create energy from the inside out instead of taking it from sources like drugs and alcohol. By entering our program, men from D.C. and all over the country can begin a new life free from addiction.

High Rates of Substance Abuse in D.C.

There is a plethora of drug problems in our nation's capital. Overall, the District has the highest rate in the U.S. for a past year dependence or abuse of both illegal drugs and alcohol, at 12.7% of the population over the age of 12. Breaking this down further, the 2002 survey also reported that D.C. had the highest rates in the country separately for alcohol dependence, at 5.2%, and illegal drug abuse, at 4.3% of the population. Such a high percentage of abusers results in higher treatment-related costs per capita than any state in the nation. A number of sources say that the most significant drug problem in the area is with cocaine and especially crack. Crack is easily available, and relatively inexpensive. About 75% of all federal drug sentences in D.C. are crack-related, while only 9% are powdered cocaine-related. Open-air markets are along highly-traveled commuting corridors and also within range of public housing projects, providing dealers with a steady steam of customers. The District also has a high homicide rate, and many of the killings are drug-related. Although several years went by with declines in violent, drug-related crime, the violence associated with crack dealing in the city remains high.

Washington, D.C. Drug Addiction Treatment

Washington, D.C. has a couple of issues that may contribute to its drug problems. The city is very diverse, with high-powered government officials calling the city home along with many people who barely have a home at all, since the District has the second-highest poverty rate in the nation. High poverty areas typically see higher rates of drug use. Secondly, the wealthy government workers often have high-pressure, stressful jobs, which can lead them to abuse alcohol, cocaine, or other illegal drugs as a way of relaxing. Needless to say, there are two very different sides of the story to substance abuse and dependence in Washington, D.C. The Mark Houston Recovery Center can treat all types of substance addiction here at our facility. If you or a loved one has a problem with drugs or alcohol, don't hesitate and call us today.