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Drug and alcohol abuse is a significant problem in Virginia. In 2015, about 25,000 people in Virginia over the age of 12 had used heroin in the past year, and approximately 397,000 Virginians qualified for diagnosis of an alcohol use disorder.
Nationwide, an estimated 21.7 million people needed treatment for a substance use disorder in 2015; however, less than 11% of those people actually received that treatment. Getting the proper care to the people who need it is a major initiative of addiction specialists, community organizations, and government initiatives.
In Virginia, more than 22,000 people were enrolled in substance abuse treatment on a single-day count conducted in 2015. Of those, 40% were in treatment for both alcohol and drug abuse, showing the prevalence of polysubstance abuse.
Virginia has some of the toughest legal penalties for possessing, manufacturing and distributing illicit substances. Criminal charges and sentencing for drug-related activities depend on the type of drug, as well as the amount involved.
Substances are classified into six schedules. Schedules I and II contain drugs with a high risk of dependency, like heroin, cocaine and opioids. Schedules V and VI include lower-risk substances such as depressants, certain stimulants and many over-the-counter medications.
| Substance Possession | ||
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Criminal Charge | Potential Sentence |
| Schedule I or II | Class 5 felony | Not less than one year, nor more than ten years in jail and $2,500 fine |
| Schedule III | Class 1 misdemeanor | Up to 1 year in jail and $2,500 fine |
| Schedule IV | Class 1 misdemeanor | Up to 6 months in jail and $1,000 fine |
| Schedule V | Class 3 misdemeanor | Up to $500 fine |
| Schedule VI | Class 5 misdemeanor | Up to $250 fine |
First-time drug offenders must participate in a treatment program. These programs offer substance abuse therapies, assist with relapse prevention and periodically test for drugs.
In an effort to dismantle large trafficking organizations, Virginia offers up to $10,000 for residents who can help law enforcement officials arrest and convict major drug dealers.
The recreational and medicinal use of marijuana is illegal in Virginia. The state does, however, have a medical cannabidiol (CBD) law for the use of extracts high in CBD and low in THC. Currently, medical CBD can only be used to treat intractable epilepsy.
Criminal charges are severe for the possession, sale, manufacture or trafficking of marijuana. In addition, possession with an intent to sell paraphernalia is a punishable offense. Marijuana paraphernalia includes bongs, water pipes, scales, rolling papers and roach clips.
| Possession | ||
|---|---|---|
| Offense | Criminal Charge | Potential Sentencing |
| Less than ½ oz (first offense) | Misdemeanor | 30 days in jail and $500 fine |
| Less than ½ oz (subsequent offenses) | Misdemeanor | 1 year in jail and $2,500 fine |
| Sale/Manufacture/Trafficking | ||
| ½ oz – 5 lbs | Felony | 1 – 10 years in jail and $2,500 fine |
| 5 lbs – 100 kg | Felony | 5 – 30 years in jail and $1,000 fine |
| More than 100 kg | Felony | 20 years – life in jail and $100,000 fine |
| To a minor who is at least 5 years younger | Felony | 2 – 50 years in jail and $100,000 fine |
| Within 1,000 ft of a school or school bus stop | Felony | 1 – 5 years in jail and $100,000 fine |
| Manufacture of marijuana | Felony | 5 – 30 years in jail and $10,000 fine |
| Transporting more than 5 lbs into the state | Felony | 5 – 40 years in jail and $1,000,000 fine |
| Paraphernalia | ||
| Sale or possession with intent to sell paraphernalia | Misdemeanor | 1 year in jail and $2,500 fine |
| To a minor who is at least 3 years younger | Felony | 1 year in jail and $2,500 fine |
Some sentences have a mandatory minimum sentence requirement which means the entire sentence must be served without an opportunity for parole.
Harm reduction laws in Virginia focus on addiction as a disease that impacts individuals, families, friends and community members. Laws may encompass needle exchange programs, methadone clinics, educational materials, naloxone and other services that help reduce the damage of addiction. When local organizations come together, they can help reduce substance abuse and build a stronger community.
Virginia drug court programs started in 2003 and are now available throughout the state. There are several different types of drug courts in Virginia: adult drug court, juvenile drug court, DUI drug court and family drug court.
The substances that are primarily used by Virginia drug court participants include:
During the 12 to 18-month program, nonviolent offenders take part in inpatient or outpatient treatment, individual counseling, various addiction therapies and support groups. The main goals of drug courts are to combat addiction and substance dependency, as well as reduce the number of repeat offenders. After successfully completing drug court in Virginia, offenders may receive a reduced or dismissed charge.
The rapid increase of prescription medication abuse has led to the addition of methadone clinics in Virginia. Methadone is used to help subside the uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms associated with an opioid or heroin addiction.
Methadone clinics offer several treatment services such as outpatient maintenance, detox programs and long-term methadone maintenance. An addiction treatment provider will be able to discuss the best option for your recovery. It's important to note that methadone should not be the only method in overcoming an addiction. A comprehensive recovery plan will provide the greatest chance for long-term recovery and sobriety.
Virginia counties are part of two High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) programs: Washington/Baltimore HIDTA and Appalachia HIDTA. An effort between local, state and Federal law enforcement agencies, HIDTA programs aim to combat major DTOs.
Counties that are part of a HIDTA program receive cutting-edge technology devices and other resources to identify and stop drug manufacturers and distributors. For example, the Washington/Baltimore HIDTA has a crime mapping unit that offers a detailed analysis of geographic information relating to DTOs.
Far too many Virginia residents struggle under the weight of addiction. Like much of the nation, the opioid epidemic has ravaged lives and communities all across Virginia.
In 2016, 1,420 people died of drug overdoses in Virginia, an increase of 38 percent from the year before. State health officials believe this upward trend is due largely to heroin, prescription fentanyl, and synthetic opioid abuse.
Opioid overdose deaths have increased dramatically since 2010, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse:
Prior to 2013, most fentanyl-related deaths in Virginia were due to prescription fentanyl. Fentanyl and fentanyl analogues are now appearing in toxicology screens far more frequently. One such drug is carfentanil, a deadly fentanyl analogue 100 times more potent than fentanyl.
Opioid overdoses affect all ages, but Virginians aged 25 to 34 experience this toll more heavily than others. This age group visits the emergency department more frequently for opioid overdoses, has higher rates of heroin and fentanyl overdoses and higher rates of HIV, a disease that can be transmitted by sharing needles to inject opioid drugs.
The most recent Behavioral Health Barometer for Virginia reported on alcohol and illicit drug abuse in Virginians for the years 2013 and 2014.
Alcohol use disorders: Almost half a million Virginians aged 12 or older struggled with alcohol abuse or dependency. At 7.1 percent of this age group, this number is slightly higher than the national average for this same period.
Illicit drug use disorders: Roughly 171,000 people aged 12 or older, or 2.5 percent of this age group, had problems with illicit drug abuse or dependency. Illicit drugs abused in Virginia include marijuana, methamphetamine and cocaine, including crack.
Virginia received $9.76 million in federal grant funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the spring of 2018. These funds will be used to fight the opioid epidemic by strengthening partnerships between public safety and public health officials, in addition to other preventative measures.
Additionally, the Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education) grant provides funding for a youth-based outreach campaign. As part of this initiative, Virginia adults are trained in “youth mental health first aid,” a continuum of care that helps to prevent and identify substance abuse so the appropriate treatments can be administered.
In April 2018, Wise County became the first Virginia county to be approved for a needle exchange program. Needle exchange programs help to reduce the spread of transmissible diseases like HIV/AIDS by providing people who inject drugs with sterile needles and supplies. This approval comes after the federal government deemed the county one of eight Virginia localities at high risk for these diseases.
Every person in addiction treatment has a unique set of needs, and rehab facilities offer a range of features and amenities to choose from.
Knowing your options and determining what’s most important to you is the first step. Call rehab facilities in your desired area to learn more about:
Virginia has seen a rise in both opioid and alcohol use. In response to the opioid crisis, the governor established a task force to control the escalating overdose rate. Consider some vital statistics from Virginia:
The state of Virginia takes a progressive stance against substance abuse and offers cost-effective, state-sponsored treatment options to residents. When looking for the right rehab, understanding what criteria to look for is essential:
The primary goal of substance abuse treatment is to help a person's body and mind heal so that they're better able to create and maintain a sober life. Just as addiction takes time to form, so does it take time to build a strong set of sober-living skills.
Individualized treatment programs build on a continuum of care that addresses a person's specific needs. The most effective Virginia addiction treatment programs respect and address a person's emotional, mental, physical and social needs. The following is a list of services and therapies that may be used to deliver this customized care model.
Addiction changes the brain in such a way that it can become hard for a person to think clearly and realize that they need help. Virginia intervention services help guide families toward the best ways to get help to loved ones in these situations. An interventionist will work with the family to plan the intervention, research treatment options and get the person to treatment.
Without professional medical support, a person is far more likely to relapse after they quit using drugs or alcohol. Virginia medically supported detoxification programs can help people to more safely and comfortably transition through this period.
Medications are commonly used to reduce or prevent cravings or other unbearable symptoms of withdrawal. Withdrawal from alcohol, benzodiazepines, and opioids can be particularly dangerous, and a medically supported drug and alcohol detox program will provide supervision and support to ensure patient safety.
A Virginia inpatient drug rehab program can be one of the most effective treatment options for drug and alcohol addiction. The residential format and increased access to addiction treatment specialists and peer support typically give a person more opportunities to develop recovery skills.
Addiction treatment and recovery can be challenging. Virginia inpatient addiction treatment programs recognize this and build their treatment plans accordingly. In high-quality programs, trained clinicians and therapists help each resident to develop an arsenal of recovery skills and relapse-prevention tools that meets the demands of their life.
Virginia outpatient addiction treatment centers offer flexible treatment options that help many people live sober lives. Outpatient drug rehab isn't typically as rigorous or supportive as inpatient care. For this reason, outpatient addiction treatment is often best used as a step-down level of care following an inpatient program.
When used this way, outpatient drug rehab helps a person to more successfully transition from fully supervised residential treatment to independent living. These programs keep a person grounded in recovery principles so they are better prepared to fight for abstinence during early recovery.
Virginia aftercare and alumni support services can help a person achieve their recovery goals after completing an addiction treatment program. Peer support groups, alumni mentorship programs, community outreach programs, and sober living homes are a few examples of resources that may be built into aftercare and alumni support programs.
Buprenorphine-based medications (Suboxone) and methadone are two drugs frequently used as maintenance medications to help a person maintain recovery from opioid drug abuse. In this capacity, medications are combined with behavioral therapies, and, in certain cases, social support programs.
Individuals who are struggling to recover from both a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder—known as co-occurring disorders—typically have greater opportunities for healing in a dual-diagnosis treatment program. The most effective of these programs use evidence-based behavioral therapies to support positive growth and healing.
Gender-specific programs focus on the issues and challenges that can be unique to treatment participants. Additionally, Virginia LGBTQ-friendly addiction treatment programs offer a welcoming space for individuals who desire this community-minded care.
Behavioral therapies make up the foundation of treatment in many Virginia addiction treatment programs.
Examples of evidence-based addiction treatment therapies include:
These psychotherapies help a person to explore the ways their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors have been influenced by their addiction. In turn, this helps them to think and act in a more positive way that supports sobriety. Sessions are typically offered in an individual, group or family setting.
Many programs also offer alternative therapies to strengthen the skills taught in behavioral therapy and enhance overall wellness.
These alternative therapies may include complementary therapies like:
Many Virginia programs integrate nutrition education, exercise, and recreational activities to further support mind-body-spirit balance and healing. Two dynamic examples include adventure and wilderness therapies.
As you determine the expense of rehab in virginia, look at the expense as an investment in your life and the lives of your family. Most rehab centers are able to take partial payment through any PPO or HMO plan you have. If you wish to talk about your eligibility and the expense of treatment in VA, contact us toll-free to get frank and truthful answers to your questions.
Whether your VA inpatient-residential illicit and prescription drug addiction recovery with take a month or 3 months, calling our treatment hotlline improves your odds of getting and keeping healthy. Deciding on a rehab center that can meet your expectations before you ever start the program can also help a lot. When you're ready to book treatment, our phone line advisors can help you find the right location so you get off on the right foot.
The cost of treatment is dependent on a number of factors, including:
If money is short, there are still plenty of ways for you to enter rehab and receive addiction treatment and/or detox services. Government insurance providers like Medicare and Medicaid are currently required to provide benefits for addiction treatment.
There are also a number of rehab facilities that are happy to work with patients to set up payment options that meet their needs. This could mean a sliding scale option, in which the amount you’re charged is based on your ability to pay. Another option is a payment installation plan, which can be set up either directly with the treatment center or through a third party that provides low-interest loans and credit cards to help cover healthcare costs.
Recovery groups and 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are also excellent resources, regardless of whether you’ve completed an addiction treatment program. In fact, many treatment centers rely on 12-step groups as the cornerstone of their recovery and aftercare programs.
If you need help finding or paying for addiction treatment in Virginia, here are some helpful links to get you started:
For more information about specific treatment options in your area, or to learn more about Virginia rehabs or other treatment options if you’re planning to travel from out of state, call us today. A treatment support specialist will be able to answer all your questions relating to types of care and treatment, alternative therapies, how to pay it, and what to do as your next step.
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