Who is Being Treated in Utah?
Substance abuse treatment in Utah is seeing a change in who is coming in for treatment. Years ago, in 1991, over 82% of the individuals who sought treatment for drug and alcohol addiction were male. Fewer than 18% were female.
Years later, in 2010, over 31% of those in addiction treatment were female. While this number has actually come down from the high of nearly 40% in 2005 and 2006, it is still a significant increase from 19 years ago.
With this increase of females in treatment, Utah substance abuse treatment centers are facing a related dilemma. Many women seeking help for active addiction are also pregnant. In 2010, 5.4% of women in treatment, throughout the state, were pregnant.
With the very real danger of birth defects from drug and alcohol use, state and federal lawmakers have taken action to improve the chances, for the unborn child of an addicted mother. If a treatment center has been contacted by a pregnant woman who applies for admission into the program, they are required to admit her within 2 weeks.
Even a minority of women in treatment being pregnant is alarming, when you look at the actual numbers; 319 women being treated in 2010 were pregnant. Each of these women was at great risk for doing irreparable harm to the unborn child.
What about the children who are already born? How many of them are affected? A large number of both males and females, in treatment, have dependent children. When you consider both sexes, 41.3% of all individuals seeking treatment in Utah have children who rely on them for their care.
Looking at just the percentage of women in treatment, with dependent children, the number rises to 56.8%. Because women in treatment bring these additional serious concerns with them, both federal and state programs have special requirements, funding, and a focus on substance abuse treatment for women.
For more information contact a Utah Drug Rehab center near you. Utah Drug Rehab centers are great at answering questions and helping those who might be struggling with any form of drug abuse.
4 Comments
Devon Doing / 13 Apr 2011 / 10:14 am
Danny Sheppard / 04 May 2011 / 4:48 am
Enrique Sossaman / 10 May 2011 / 8:29 am
Rachael Garkow / 29 May 2011 / 6:28 am