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Drug abuse among Arizona adults—particularly heroin—is fairly high. Consider the following statistics:
Recent data show Arizona youth also have slightly higher substance abuse rates than the national average. According to the High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 35% of Arizona teens in grades 9-12 said they had at least 1 drink of alcohol on at least 1 day in the past month, compared to 33% of teens nationwide. Of these, 19% said they binge drank at least once in the past month, compared to 18% nationwide. Lifetime marijuana use, inhalant use, and cocaine use in this group were all above the national average.
Drug deaths in Arizona also outpace the U.S. average. From 2012-2014, male drug deaths averaged 22 per 100,000 people compared to 17.3 per 100,000 nationally, while female drug deaths averaged 15.2 per 100,000 compared to 10.8 nationally.
In Arizona, the possession, sale, manufacturing and trafficking of drugs is illegal. Criminal charges are serious and sentencing is harsh. Penalties depend on the type of substance as well as the amount involved. Manufacturing and trafficking entail a more severe punishment than possessing a drug; however, both are serious crimes.
Arizona laws classify drugs as one of the following:
Each classification has different levels of charges and sentencing.
| Classification | Substances Included | Criminal Charges | Sentencing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dangerous Drugs | LSD, ecstasy, methamphetamines, steroids, hallucinogenic mushrooms, GHB, mescaline, clonazepam, lorazepam | Class 1 Misdemeanor | Up to 6 months in jail and fines reaching $2,500 |
| Narcotics | Cocaine, heroin, opium, morphine and oxycodone | Class 5 Felony | Up to 18 months in prison |
| Marijuana | Pot, weed, etc. | Class 6 Felony | Up to one year in prison |
Medical marijuana is legal in Arizona; however, any recreational use of marijuana is illegal throughout the state.
Qualifying conditions for medical marijuana use include:
Home cultivation is allowed, but you must reside further than 25 miles from a state-licensed dispensary facility. Additionally, you are only legally allowed to have up to 12 marijuana plants that are in an enclosed and locked facility. For individuals located near a dispensary, there is a possession limit of two and one-half ounces of usable marijuana.
The recreational use of marijuana is illegal in Arizona and you can be charged for possession in varying amounts.
| Marijuana Amount | Criminal Charge | Potential Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 2 lbs. | Felony | 4 months – 2 years in jail, plus a $150,000 maximum fine |
| Between 2 – 4 lbs. | Felony | 6 months – 2.5 years in jail, plus a $150,000 maximum fine |
| 4 lbs. or more | Felony | 1 – 3.75 years in jail, plus a $150,000 maximum fine |
A few steps the state has taken to address addiction include needle exchange programs, overdose reversal medications and community awareness programs.
A bipartisan bill was introduced in the state senate in March 2018 to officially allow organizations to establish needle exchange programs. These programs decrease bloodborne disease transmission and reduce medical hazards resulting from improperly discarded needles.
The Arizona Department of Health Services has provided over 18,000 doses of naloxone (Narcan) to appropriately trained law enforcement agencies throughout the state. Naloxone is an opioid overdose reversal medication that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose, allowing time to provide life-saving medical support.
Arizona has established several programs to increase substance-abuse awareness throughout the state. These include the Arizona Parents Commission on Drug Education and Prevention, 2-1-1 Arizona and DrugFreeAZKids.org.
The goal of addiction treatment is to help each client achieve long-lasting recovery, enable them to lead a productive life within their community and workplace and find fulfillment in their sobriety. A variety of treatment programs and therapy types are available in Arizona to help those who need it.
Seeking treatment for drug or alcohol abuse is a big decision. To help narrow down your options, think about whether you’d like to stay close to home or travel for treatment, what kind of insurance coverage you have, and what kind of amenities you’d like (e.g., food, accommodations, recreational opportunities). Programs can vary from standard to luxury, and the more amenities a program has, the more expensive it will be.
When determining the price of rehabilitation in arizona, look at the expense as an investment in your family's future. Most treatment centers are able to take partial payment through any PPO or HMO plan you have. If you wish to review your eligibility and the cost of treatment in AZ, call our help line, at no charge to get frank and truthful answers to your questions.
Whether your AZ inpatient-residential alcohol and drug addiction treatment with take ninety days or 3 months, beginning your treatment today improves your chances of getting and keeping healthy. Picking a recovery program that can meet your own expectations before you ever set foot in the door can also help a great deal. When you're ready to book treatment, our help line advisors can help you find the right location so you get off on the right foot.
Many things affect the cost of your rehab treatment, such as how long your program runs for, the type of amenities the center has, and where it's located. Longer treatment programs are generally more expensive (e.g., 90-day vs 30-day programs) but may give you the best chance of recovery, so be sure to carefully consider the advice of a treatment professional when it comes to program length, even if it may cost you more.
Intervention services can help family and friends convince their loved one to seek help for an addiction. An interventionist assists members of the intervention group with planning and helps keep the conversation focused. Professionally led interventions have a high success rate of getting a person to commit to treatment.
Detoxification allows the body to rid itself of drugs and alcohol. When a person is physically dependent on a substance, withdrawal symptoms will set in when it's withheld. Withdrawal symptoms range from unpleasant to potentially life-threatening.
Medically supervised detox provides monitoring and support during this process. Many drug and alcohol detox programs in Arizona offer medications to ease or prevent withdrawal symptoms. Some of these medications can be continued long-term if needed.
Arizona inpatient drug and alcohol rehab programs offer round-the-clock support, behavioral therapies and a structured environment. Clients live on the premises for the duration of treatment, which removes opportunities for relapse.
People attending an intensive outpatient addiction treatment program return home after therapy each day. This level of care is beneficial for those who have completed an inpatient addiction treatment program but would benefit from continued therapy.
Sober living facilities are drug-free residential settings where a person can continue their recovery after addiction treatment while surrounded by others who are focused on the same thing. House rules must be followed, and some sober living facilities conduct random drug testing.
People seeking recovery who don’t have insurance do have a number of options available to help them pay for treatment. For instance, many programs in Arizona have sliding scale fees, which means you pay an agreed-upon rate based on your income. You can also usually work out a payment program where you make monthly payments instead of paying a lump sum.
Some people take out loans or borrow from their savings, while others seek donations through crowdfunding sites. Health care credit cards are another option for payment, but it’s important that if you go this route that you try to secure a reasonable interest rate.
When someone experiences a mental illness and a substance use disorder simultaneously, it is known as a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders. Either disorder can develop first, but effective treatment must address both, each in context of the other.
Each gender faces unique challenges that can affect their recovery. Some addiction treatment programs offer gender-specific therapies and single-gender treatment groups, which takes the needs of each gender into account while also removing potential romantic distractions.
Medication-assisted treatment programs combine behavioral therapy with medications to strengthen recovery. Medications such as methadone, naloxone (Narcan), buprenorphine (Suboxone) and naltrexone (Vivitrol) prevent the onset of withdrawal symptoms and can be tapered down over time.
Trauma-informed care recognizes the connection between trauma and addiction and accommodates the unique needs of those who have experienced trauma. This type of addiction treatment focuses on building an environment where clients feel safe and can fully engage with their therapy.
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