The Yellowstone National Park and the Rocky Mountains are just some of the attractions that are found in the state of Wyoming. The state also boasts a diverse landscape that has been providing recreational activities and inspiration for visitors and residents alike.
However, the state has also witnessed a growth in the rates of substance abuse and abuse. Although these rates are often not as high as is being witnessed in other parts of the United States, many families in the region struggle with the various negative consequences of substance abuse and addiction.
Many of the residents of Wyoming are increasingly concerned about the growing cases of opioid abuse and addiction in the state. This is particularly true because the total number of overdose cases involving this class of drugs in the state has been exceeding those reported at the national level.
According to the Division of Criminal Investigation in the state, for instance, reports that investigations into prescription opioids and heroin have more than doubled for several years now.
The state has also been struggling with an epidemic involving heroin. This problem is now associated with the high rates of prescription opioid pain relief medication abuse and addiction among local residents.
People who abuse these prescription medications and develop tolerance and dependence on them eventually find that they have to switch to heroin. This is due to the fact that heroin is much more widely available at cheaper prices across the state.
However, opioids are not the only substances of abuse in Wyoming. Buses, commercial trucks, and even private vehicles are used to transport other drugs into the state through Interstate 25 and Interstate 90. These highways are used to bring in drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin into the state.
Other drugs of abuse that are commonly abused in the state include marijuana, stimulants like methamphetamine, alcohol, opioids like hydrocodone and morphine, cocaine, and heroin - among many others.
7.5 percent of the population of Wyoming above the age of 12 years reported that they had engaged in alcohol abuse or that they were struggling with an alcohol use disorder or alcoholism from 2013 to 2014. This number was close to 36,000 people.
In 2016, it was also reported that 57 percent of all custodial arrests in the state involved alcohol. The greatest numbers of these arrests were made in Teton, Sheridan, and Fremont counties.
The state reported in 2018 that more than 40 people lost their lives to an overdose situation involving opioid drugs. Among these fatalities, 28 were associated with prescription opioid pain relief medications.
This is not exactly surprising especially considering that health care service providers and doctors in the state wrote about 57 prescriptions for opioid medications for every segment of 100 people. This number was higher than the national average of around 51 prescriptions for a similar segment of the American population.
If you are struggling with alcohol or drug dependence in the state of Wyoming, you should consider enrolling in an accredited and licensed addiction treatment and rehabilitation center.