• About
    • Insurance
    • Credentialing Partners
    • Admissions
    • Dual Diagnosis
    • Alumni Success Stories
    • Careers
  • Treatments
    • Inpatient / Detox
    • Partial Hospitalization Program
    • Intensive Outpatient Program
    • Transitional Housing
    • Family Program
    • Continuum Of Care
  • Resources
    • News & Events
    • Blog
    • Addictions
  • Gallery
  • Contact
  • Donate

Treat the whole person - body, mind, and spirit > CALL TODAY 314.631.4299

Harris HouseHarris House
  • About
    • Insurance
    • Credentialing Partners
    • Admissions
    • Dual Diagnosis
    • Alumni Success Stories
    • Careers
  • Treatments
    • Inpatient / Detox
    • Partial Hospitalization Program
    • Intensive Outpatient Program
    • Transitional Housing
    • Family Program
    • Continuum Of Care
  • Resources
    • News & Events
    • Blog
    • Addictions
  • Gallery
  • Contact
  • Donate

Missouri Opioid Overdose Deaths Pass National Average

July 23, 2018 Posted by grant Abuse, Addiction, Blog, Brain

The most recent data is in from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and it’s not good news for Missouri residents. Not only have synthetic opioid overdose deaths undergone a significant increase in recent years, but the rate of opioid-related overdose deaths in Missouri exceed the national average. Here’s a closer look at the data, along with what it means for addicts and the people who love them.

Photo of the arch in St. Louis with buildings around it.

Missouri has many allures, but high addiction rates are not one of them.

Staggering Statistics

There’s an opioid epidemic raging throughout the country. Unfortunately, the people of Missouri are among the hardest hit, according to NIDA data. Just how troubling are the findings? The numbers speak for themselves.

For starters, there were 914 opioid-related overdose deaths in the state in 2016 alone. This is a rate of 15.9 deaths for every 100 people (compared to a national rate of 13.3 deaths per 100,000 persons). Since 2013, meanwhile, the number of synthetic opioid overdose deaths spiked from 97 to 441.

The phenomenon isn’t limited to illegal drugs, either. In fact, Missouri providers wrote a whopping 5.2 million prescriptions in 2015—that’s 90 opioid prescriptions per every 100 people. Meanwhile, the average, countrywide rate was 70:100.

Graph that shows the rate of opioid related overdose deaths in Missouri.

Nor is the impact of the opioid epidemic limited to addicts themselves. According to a CDC study reported by NIDA, the number of codes reported by hospitals related to neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) linked with maternal drug increased fivefold over the decade between 2006 and 2016.

Given the skyrocketing use of these dangerous drugs, it’s not surprising that Missouri is also seeing rising incidences of both HIV and hepatitis C prevalence and diagnoses linked with injection drug use. It’s also not surprising that the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Service (DHSS) has established fighting the opioids crisis as a critical priority.

Where There’s Help, There’s Hope

For people addicted to opioid drugs—and for the people who love them—the outlook can seem bleak. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Essential to getting addicts the help they need is letting go of the stigma associated with substance abuse. This is easier to do when we accept that addiction can and does strike people from all walks of life. Proposes MDHHS, “the opioid epidemic affects all genders, all races, and many age groups in both rural and urban Missouri geographies. The impact is multi-dimensional and multi-generational. Trends indicate that the scourge of misuse in our state, and nationwide, continues to affect people across all demographics.”

And the evidence shows us that recovery from drug addiction, is possible, especially through treatment including behavioral counseling, medication, the use of medical devices and applications for addressing withdrawal symptoms, evaluating and treating co-occurring mental health issues, and relapse prevention through long-term follow-up.

African American family smiling with trees in the background.

Addiction fractures families, but substance abuse treatment can help put them back together 

But not all addiction treatment programs are created equal. Says the NIH, “A range of care with a tailored treatment program and follow-up options can be crucial to success. Treatment should include both medical and mental health services as needed. Follow-up care may include community- or family-based recovery support systems.”

And yet, according to SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health as reported by NIDA, just 2.6 million of the 22.5 million aged 12-or-older Americans—just 11 percent!—who need treatment for drug or alcohol use actually receive treatment through specialty treatment programs.  The takeaway? When avoiding becoming a statistic may depend on treatment, shockingly few people are getting it.

Contact us at Harris House today to learn more about our St. Louis area treatment programs aimed at helping people overcome their addictions in order to lead productive, fulfilling and substance-free lives.

Share
0

About grant

This author hasn't written their bio yet.
grant has contributed 289 entries to our website, so far.View entries by grant

    You also might be interested in

    Hope for Recovery is Alive!

    Apr 2, 2016

    There is always hope, and always an opportunity for you[...]

    Growing Gratitude in the Garden of Your Mind

    Apr 19, 2016

    You don’t have to pretend that negative things don’t exist.[...]

    How Trauma Affects the Brain

    Apr 11, 2016

    Psychological trauma occurs when it is not possible to process[...]

    Recent Posts

    • A Guide to Inpatient Alcohol Rehab Centers
    • What to Look for When Searching for the Right Rehab Facilities in St. Louis
    • The Benefits of a Holistic Inpatient Rehab for Alcohol Addiction – The Solution You’ve Been Searching For
    • What to Expect from Your 28-Day Residential Treatment Program
    • The Difference Between Intensive Inpatient Therapy (24-Hour Drug Rehab Centers) and Other Facilities

    Insurance Providers

    Substance use insurance coverage and benefits can be multifaceted and will vary with the different insurance companies and plans. The Harris House Insurance Department has experience working with insurance providers to get our clients the maximum benefits possible. Let our staff do the work for you. LEARN MORE

    Insurance Providers Insurance Providers Insurance Providers

    Credentialing Partners

    Harris House is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF International). Harris House is also certified by the Missouri Department of Mental Health, approved by the Better Business Bureau as an A+ accredited charity and a proud member of United Way of Greater St. Louis. LEARN MORE

    DMH Carf BBB United Way

    Contact Us

    Let your recovery begin

    We're here to help.

    Please reach out with any questions

    CONTACT US

    314-631-4299

    • About
      • Insurance
      • Credentialing Partners
      • Admissions
      • Dual Diagnosis
      • Alumni Success Stories
      • Careers
    • Treatments
      • Inpatient / Detox
      • Partial Hospitalization Program
      • Intensive Outpatient Program
      • Transitional Housing
      • Family Program
      • Continuum Of Care
    • Resources
      • News & Events
      • Blog
      • Addictions
    • Gallery
    • Contact
    • Donate

    Treat the whole person - body, mind, and spirit > CALL TODAY 314.631.4299

    Harris HouseHarris House
    • About
      • Insurance
      • Credentialing Partners
      • Admissions
      • Dual Diagnosis
      • Alumni Success Stories
      • Careers
    • Treatments
      • Inpatient / Detox
      • Partial Hospitalization Program
      • Intensive Outpatient Program
      • Transitional Housing
      • Family Program
      • Continuum Of Care
    • Resources
      • News & Events
      • Blog
      • Addictions
    • Gallery
    • Contact
    • Donate
    About Us
    Treatments
    Resources
    Gallery
    Contact Us
    Donate

    For individuals struggling with addiction to alcohol and drugs, Harris House helps people achieve sobriety and become healthy and productive individuals. Since our founding in 1961, Harris House has grown to become a top-rated non-profit treatment center.

    CALL US TODAY

    314-631-4299

    2706 S. River Rd
    St. Charles, MO 63303

    8315 South Broadway
    St. Louis, MO 63111

    © 2023 HARRIS HOUSE FOUNDATION.

    Prev Next