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Substance abuse disorders are extremely common in the United States—in 2015 alone, more than 20 million people had a substance use disorder related to alcohol or illicit drug use.
The number of drug overdoses involving opioids continues to be a major public health problem across the nation. In 2015, more than 33,000 people died from opioid overdose. Mississippi residents have felt the unfortunate consequences of the opioid epidemic:
An average of 12,000 people are arrested for drug-related crimes each year in Mississippi, including possession, selling, manufacturing or trafficking.
In order for a judge to determine the right sentence for a drug-related crime, each type of drug is categorized into five schedules, which help classify the addictiveness of a substance as well as its accepted medical value. Drugs included in schedules I and II are considered the most addictive and have little to no accepted medical use. In contrast, schedules III, IV and V list drugs that increase in medical value and decrease in dependency potential.
Possessing a scheduled drug without a prescription is automatically considered a felony in Mississippi, no matter how much of the substance you're caught with. A person could spend up to a quarter of their life in prison and face six-figure fines.
| Drug schedule | Possession amount | Potential penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Schedules I – II | Less than .1 g | $10,000 fine, 4 years in prison |
| .1g – less than 2g | $50,000 fine, 2 – 8 years in prison | |
| 2g – 10g | $250,000 fine, 4 – 16 years in prison | |
| More than 10g | $500,000 fine and 6 – 24 years in prison | |
| Schedules I – IV | Less than 50g | $1,000 fine and 1 year in jail |
| 50g – 150g | $10,000 and 1 – 4 years in prison | |
| 150g – 300g | $50,000 fine and 2 – 8 years in prison | |
| 300g to 500g | $250,000 fine and 4 – 16 years in prison | |
| More than 500g | $500,000 fine and 6 – 24 years in prison | |
| Drug paraphernalia | N/A | $500 fine and 6 months in jail |
Mississippi enforces strict and unforgiving fines for selling, manufacturing or trafficking drugs. If the crime involved methamphetamine, a schedule II drug, the fine gets doubled.
| Drug schedule | Potential penalty |
|---|---|
| Schedules I – II | $5,000 – $1 million fine and up to 30 years in prison |
| Schedules III – IV | $1,000 – $250,000 fine and up to 20 years in prison |
| Schedule V | $1,000 – $50,000 fine and up to 10 years in prison |
| Trafficking of any schedule I – V drug | $5,000 – $1 million fine and up to 30 years in prison |
If the possession or sale of any type of scheduled drug in Mississippi happened within 1,500 feet of a school, church, public park or movie theater, the fine and jail sentence of the original crime doubles.
Possessing, selling, cultivating or trafficking marijuana in Mississippi is illegal. Possession penalties vary according to the number of previous marijuana offenses the person has on their record. It's up to a judge's discretion to determine exact sentencing, but these are the typical penalties for each marijuana possession offense:
If the possession crime involves more than 30 grams of marijuana, offenders can face a $3,000 fine and up to three years in prison. Penalties for marijuana crimes become especially steep when it's a selling or cultivating offense. Violators caught selling, cultivating or trafficking more than one ounce of marijuana can be sent to prison for up to 30 years and pay a $1 million fine.
The only form of medical marijuana allowed in Mississippi is cannabidiol (CBD), a low-THC oil derived from the cannabis plant. According to state law, the oil must contain no more than 0.5 percent THC and may be used to treat epilepsy.
Amphetamines such as Adderall are largely prescribed to treat ADHD, a condition that an increasing number of Mississippi residents are being diagnosed with. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2011 Mississippi had one of the highest rates of childhood ADHD in the nation.
Along with the growing number of children diagnosed with ADHD in Mississippi comes an increase in the number of stimulants prescribed throughout the state. From 2011 to 2014, Mississippi saw a 37 percent increase in the number of amphetamines prescribed. The dosage of these prescriptions increased even more rapidly during this time period, by 41 percent.
As the number and dosage of amphetamine prescriptions continue to rise throughout Mississippi, stimulant drugs are becoming easily accessible in medicine cabinets across the state. Those who have no medical reason to use Adderall are increasingly taking the drug in large doses to achieve a high similar to that of cocaine.
Prescription amphetamines cause hyperstimulation throughout the brain and body, making users feel stronger, more self-assured and energized. The extra confidence and energy allow those who abuse amphetamines to accomplish more than they normally would without the drug.
Due to this, amphetamines have become increasingly popular for those looking to boost mental and physical performance. This type of drug also suppresses appetite and is often abused by those looking to lose weight.
Mississippi has more opioid prescriptions than people. As a state with one of the highest opioid prescription rates in the nation at 107.5 prescriptions for every 100 people, Mississippi has placed residents at risk for opioid addiction.
Those who develop addictions to these powerful painkillers often end up turning to cheaper alternatives that are easier to get than a prescription, like heroin. Statistics reflect these unfortunate trends.
Sixty-seven police seizures tested positive for heroin in Mississippi in 2012. This number reached over 400 in 2017. In the same year, Mississippi saw around 274 overdose deaths, the highest in state history.
Like many other states, Mississippi is facing an ongoing battle to combat drug and alcohol abuse. While alcohol and amphetamines remain a consistent threat, many policymakers in Mississippi are focused on fighting the opioid epidemic.
Mississippi's governor established the Governor's Opioid and Heroin Study Task Force in late 2015. This task force brought together a wide array of individuals, from first responders and policymakers to pharmacists. All worked together to draft comprehensive recommendations for combating opioid addiction and overdose in Mississippi.
After many months of consideration, the task force released its recommendations in August 2017.
Recommendations to help combat addiction include:
In April 2017, while the task force was still putting together their report, Mississippi received a $3.58 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help combat opioid addiction in the state. This funding allowed immediate implementation of many of the task force's recommendations.
Some of the biggest initiatives that the grant money went toward included:
There are numerous options available for recovery, including inpatient residential programs, outpatient services, and partial hospitalization programs that fall somewhere in between in terms of time commitment and treatment intensity.
To find out which Mississippi rehab center is best for you, begin by browsing through our directory of rehab centers to see what types of treatment programs are available in your area, or call us to speak directly with a recovery specialist who can help.
Before choosing a program, it’s a good idea to list the key features you are looking for in a treatment program. For example, location may be very important to you. Do you want to be close to home or far away so you can focus on recovery without any of the distractions of your day-to-day life? Another factor is the type of therapy offered. If you are interested in a mindfulness-based approach, you may want to find a center that offers alternative therapies like yoga or meditation. Taking the time to review what’s important to you before entering a treatment program will help set you up for success and ensure that you have the optimal experience in treatment.
High-quality and professional addiction counseling services are available all throughout the state of Mississippi. While every rehab center is different, many should offer the essential components of effective treatment, including:
Overcoming addiction alone can be challenging, and in many cases, unsuccessful. Instead of struggling to get sober without help, individuals should seek an addiction treatment program in Mississippi that best fits their unique mental, emotional and physical needs.
Long-term and chronic drug or alcohol abuse takes a toll on a person's body and brain. Due to this, there can be an intense physical reaction when a person stops using. Symptoms such as hallucinations, tremors, vomiting and seizures are not uncommon during withdrawal.
While these symptoms are all part of the detox process, they can be dangerous and, at times, life-threatening. To make this process safer, those going through detox should do so under medical supervision—particularly those detoxing from alcohol, benzos or opioids.
Medically supervised detox in Mississippi ensures that patients are monitored around the clock and given supportive care when necessary. It also guarantees that doctors can intervene quickly if detox symptoms turn dangerous.
During Mississippi inpatient addiction treatment, patients will have the opportunity to recover in a safe and supportive environment. Throughout their time on campus, residential addiction treatment patients will participate in individual therapy, group therapy and an array of other activities that will help them restore balance to their lives and learn essential recovery skills.
Inpatient drug rehab offers the most time in therapy, giving patients ample opportunities to work through the underlying causes of addiction and practice relapse-prevention techniques in a compassionate space.
Life in a highly structured treatment environment is very different than reality, and sometimes patients have a difficult time transitioning back to their day-to-day life. Due to this, some clients may choose to live in a sober-living house after treatment. Mississippi sober living houses offer residents a drug- and alcohol-free environment surrounded by other individuals who are also focused on addiction recovery.
Participating in an aftercare program can also be highly beneficial for patients in recovery, especially the fragile beginning stages of sobriety. Aftercare provides essential support and continued care after a residential or outpatient treatment program. Aftercare programs will include services like long-term case management, group outings, group meetings, and 24/7 on-call support.
Those seeking a drug or alcohol addiction treatment program will be able to find quality treatment options in Mississippi, including specialized care such as those below.
Mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression, frequently co-occur with substance use disorders. Dual-diagnosis treatment addresses both the addiction and mental health issues at the same time.
Medication-assisted treatment programs in Mississippi combine medications with behavioral therapies to treat opioid or alcohol substance use disorders and prevent relapse.
Trauma grounding is a coping tool that trains patients to use the body's five senses to release unwanted thoughts or memories.
Men and women experience addiction differently, and this means that they need different levels of care in their recovery. Gender-specific treatment programs have institutional knowledge and experience working with one gender, and this can aid in the recovery process.
Traditional therapies are the core of addiction treatment. These evidence-based therapies are used in the majority of treatment programs because they are highly effective and practical. Traditional behavior therapies seek to identify and help change self-destructive and unhealthy behaviors.
Traditional therapies that patients may encounter during their time in treatment include:
As addiction treatment continues to evolve, providers are incorporating more alternative forms of therapy into their curriculum. Known as complementary therapies, these modalities are used alongside traditional therapies to promote spiritual and emotional growth and healing throughout addiction treatment.
Complementary therapies offered by addiction treatment centers may include:
To determine what type of therapy will work best, each patient should work with their treatment team to come up with a comprehensive treatment plan.
The length of addiction treatment will vary based on a patient's individual needs. Many programs offer treatments in 30-, 60- and 90-day durations. However, some treatment providers will offer programs lasting up to a year.
To determine the best length of treatment, those looking for addiction treatment should work with an addiction treatment professional and consider the following elements:
While there is no definitive length of treatment that works best for every individual, the National Institute on Drug Abuse has found that programs lasting 90 days or longer are the most effective.
Once a person had determined where they will go for treatment, it's critical to consider how they will pay for their treatment.
Depending on the type of plan that an individual has, insurance may pay for part of or all of the addiction treatment process.
The following healthcare providers may offer insurance coverage in Mississippi:
For those that do not have health insurance, many Mississippi treatment centers offer and accept scholarships and grants. Additionally, treatment financing programs and sliding-scale fee options are available to make addiction treatment more accessible.
When reviewing the expense of rehab in mississippi, look at the expense as an investment in your future. Most rehab clinics are able to take partial payment through any PPO or HMO plan you have. If you wish to talk about your eligibility and the price of treatment in MS, dial our number, at no charge to get frank and honest answers to your questions.
Whether your MS inpatient-residential prescription and illicit drug rehab with take ninety days or 3 months, calling to get treatment improves your chances of getting and keeping healthy. Picking a recovery clinic that can address your needs before you ever set foot in the door can also help immeasurably. When you're ready to book treatment, our hotline advisors can help you get properly placed so you are happy with your choice.
The cost of substance abuse treatment varies greatly from rehab to rehab, depending on a number of factors, so there is no one set price. Some elements that can impact the cost of rehab include the length of stay, the type of treatment (inpatient vs. outpatient), amenities and services offered, and your individual insurance plan.
If you have insurance, you can call your provider to learn more about the details of your plan. If you don't have insurance, there are plenty of other ways to finance your recovery. Many facilities offer sliding scale and payment plan options for lower income individuals.
Addiction therapy is designed to help you build the skills that will help you avoid relapse after leaving treatment. Although it includes a large upfront cost, the investment you are making in your health could help save your life by preventing further harm.
To get started, you can reach out to treatment centers that offer sliding scale payment plans. Your treatment fee will be based on what you can afford to pay. You can also look into financing options and pay for treatment in monthly installments instead of in one lump sum. There are other ways to cover the cost, including raising funds through crowdfunding, asking friends or family for help, or taking out a healthcare loan.
Addiction centers, government services, nonprofits, churches, and community groups are all resources that can help you find the help you need to get clean and sober. Below are a few resources available in Mississippi.
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