Drug Epidemics Among Youth in New Jersey

Drug addiction has been a problem for New Jersey for a long time, from marijuana usage  to crack cocaine. Now, the Task Force on Heroin and Other Opiate Use Amongst New Jersey’s Youth and Young Adults says that drug problems are reaching epidemic levels, especially for young people.

The panel chair, Frank Greenagel, said that youths are dying from drug dependence “more often than anyone would care to admit.” The statistics released by the Task Force state that the rate of Jerseyans under the age of 25 who sought treatment for prescription painkiller addiction has jumped 79% since 2010. This reflects a growing trend of abuse of prescribed medication, rather than just illegal drugs. However, heroin use is also increasing dramatically: people under 25 who tried to get treatment for heroin dependence rose 44% since 2010. The evidence points to alarming increases in the amount of young people who are addicted to hard drugs. Greenagel also said that many Jerseyans seek help in other states, so rates of people seeking treatment might actually be underestimated in the Task Force’s numbers.

New Jersey is facing a crisis of drug addiction, a nightmare for so many young people. In the depths of addiction, it can seem like there’s no hope. Thankfully, there is good help out there. Medications and cognitive-behavioral therapy have proven to be effective in treating drug addictions. It can be difficult or impossible for an addict to treat themselves on their own or with family members, so it’s very important to find the right treatment center. At Seabrook, we customize our treatment plans to individual patient’s needs, so you know the help you’re getting is right for you or a loved one. Seabrook has rehabilitation centers in New Jersey (NJ), Pennsylvania (PA), and an outpatient center in New York (NY). Contact Seabrook today for any questions about drugs, addiction, and treatment.