Alabama Drug Rehabs

Alabama Addiction Treatment

Alcohol addiction and abuse are the biggest problems facing Alabama residents. The state has the 17th highest rate of alcohol-related deaths.

Teens and young adults are especially likely to abuse alcohol due to peer pressure. Marijuana, cocaine, heroin and prescription drugs are also commonly abused in the state. Alabama’s location on the Gulf of Mexico provides a prime gateway for drug trafficking across

Although Alabama has high alcohol and drug abuse rates, many residents are getting treatment. Alabama has tailored treatment programs to help those suffering from many types of addiction. If you or your loved one is ready to begin recovery, contact a treatment provider now.

Alabama Drug Statistics

Binge And Underage Drinking In Alabama

Underage and binge drinking is a serious concern in Alabama. About 90 percent of the alcohol consumed by underage drinkers in the U.S. is in the form of binge drinking.

Many underage drinkers are unaware of the potential consequences of alcohol abuse. Heavy alcohol consumption affects a person’s judgment, leading to poor decision making. Young people are also more at risk for physical injury or alcohol poisoning while intoxicated. Underage college students caught drinking on campus could also be expelled, leading to further complications down the road.

Many factors can influence underage and binge drinking. Teens and young adults often view drinking as a rite of passage. They may experience peer pressure from friends or classmates to fit in. The stress from studies or a career can also drive some people to binge drink to blow off steam.

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Laws Of Alabama Drug Use

Alabama’s laws regarding drug use are fairly unforgiving, and these penalties can impact people’s plans for the future. You could have trouble getting a scholarship, joining the military or getting a job you want.

Alabama’s “Under Age, Under Arrest” Program

The Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board’s “Under Age, Under Arrest” campaign targets underage drinking. Launched in 2013, the statewide initiative reminds teens and underage adults that they can be arrested, fined and sent to jail for possessing and consuming alcohol.

Underage drinking and binge drinking remain big problems in Alabama and the nation, taking or ruining many lives every year.

“Under Age, Under Arrest” provides online resources about the dangers of underage and binge drinking. The ABC also holds sponsored programs at high schools throughout the state, where ABC members and state representatives have spoken to students about the campaign.

Consequences For Illegal Drug And Underage Alcohol Possession In Alabama

Alabama has some of the toughest penalties for drug violations in the United States. The state prohibits the sale, delivery or distribution of any illegal drug.

Alcohol

It is illegal for anyone in Alabama under the age of 21 to consume, purchase, possess, or transport alcohol. The penalty for a minor-in-possession conviction in Alabama is a minimum fine of $25 or a maximum fine of $100. Additionally, a person may be sentenced to serve up to 30 days in jail or in a juvenile detention facility if they are below the age of 18.

Marijuana

Cannabis is a Schedule I controlled substance in Alabama. Recreational marijuana is completely illegal and medical cannabis is only legal in low-THC, high-CBD variants. Under “Carly’s Law,” Alabama permitted the University of Alabama at Birmingham to use cannabidiol to treat patients with epileptic disorders as part of a research program, but the law expired in July 2019. In Alabama, possessing marijuana for personal use (possession in the second degree) is a Class A misdemeanor. The penalties for a Class A misdemeanor in Alabama are imprisonment for up to one year and a maximum fine of $6,000. An Alabama resident who possesses marijuana for personal use after already having been convicted of possession in the second degree commits a Class D felony, which is punishable by a fine of up to $7,500 and a prison term of up to five years.

Furthermore, anyone in Alabama who possesses marijuana for any other reason, such as for distribution or transportation, commits possession in the first degree, a Class C felony. The penalties for a Class C felony are a term of imprisonment of up to 10 years and a fine of up to $15,000. Alabama also imposes strict penalties on trafficking marijuana. According to the 2018 Code of Alabama, anyone who “knowingly sells, manufactures, delivers, or brings into this state” 1,000 pounds of marijuana is subject to a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.

Cocaine, Heroin, Meth, And Other Illicit Drugs

In Alabama, cocaine, heroin, and most opioids are all controlled substances, and anyone who possesses any controlled substance is guilty of a Class D felony. It is illegal to possess opioids which are controlled substances without a medical prescription. Under the Alabama Habitual Felony Offender Act, a Class D felony becomes a Class C felony (which carries even more serious penalties) if the offender has already been convicted at least two other felonies, so a first-time conviction for illegal drug possession can potentially result in a decade behind bars.

Under current state law, anyone who commits drug trafficking in cocaine, heroin, hydromorphone, PCP, meth, or synthetic drugs can face a mandatory life-term in prison, without possibility of parole, depending on the amount of the substance that the offender brought into or sold in the state.

Addiction Treatment In Alabama

Harm reduction laws work to reduce the health, social and economic risks of using drugs. These laws provide training, access to treatment and other resources to promote public safety. Harm reduction laws vary in each state.

Alabama currently doesn’t provide any harm reduction laws. However, the state provides access to methadone, a medication used to reduce withdrawal symptoms from heroin and other opioids.

Alabama Methadone Maintenance Treatment

Alabama’s Methadone Maintenance Treatment programs have helped narcotic addiction sufferers live normal, healthy lives. Methadone works by reducing the uncomfortable symptoms in people withdrawing from narcotics. People are able to continue on with their normal schedule while taking methadone.

Studies have shown that methadone works best as part of a long-term treatment plan for addiction. Alabama operates 24 outpatient narcotic treatment centers that dispense methadone.

Alabama Drug Courts

Alabama offers a drug court program to hear the cases involving drug offenders. Drug courts give nonviolent offenders with drug addictions a chance for recovery. Instead of jail time, participants receive treatment, counseling and any other services they need.

Drug courts try to address the addiction as the root cause for an addicted person’s criminal behavior. The goal is to provide necessary treatment that prevents the crimes from happening again. There are over 30 counties in Alabama that have a drug court program.

Prescription And Illicit Drug Monitoring In Alabama

In order to fight the rising rates of addiction and substance abuse, Alabama has implemented drug monitoring and assessment programs to lower the accessibility of illegal drugs.

Alabama’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP)

Alabama’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program detects the abuse of prescription medications under the Alabama Uniform Controlled Substances Act. PDMP requires all dispensed prescription drugs to an electronic database. The goals of Alabama’s PDMP are to reduce and prevent prescription drug abuse.

The Gulf Coast High-Intensity Drug Threat Assessment (GC-HIDTA)

Because of Alabama’s proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, drug trafficking through the state has become a serious issue. As a response, the state has implemented extra measures to prevent drug trafficking. The GC-HIDTA includes a four-state area comprised of 26 counties/parishes shown to have high drug trafficking rates, including six in Alabama. The assessment tracks drug trends to show which substances pose the greatest threat. This helps to reduce the threat of drug prevalence by addressing and stopping the trafficking of drugs in the first place.

Treatment Centers In Alabama

There are many alcohol and drug addiction recovery centers available in Alabama to help get you or your loved one’s life back on track.

The Fellowship House is just one of the many treatment centers in Alabama. Located in Birmingham, this center provides inpatient recovery options for those who suffer from substance addiction and co-occurring disorders. They focus on faith-based care designed to address each person’s specific needs.

After making the decision to get help for a drug or alcohol addiction, the next step is deciding where to go. It’s important to consider all treatment options including those far from home. Many people opt to travel out of town, or even out of state, for rehab.

Traveling for rehab provides all sorts of benefits for patients. They begin treatment with a “fresh start” mindset, allowing them to break negative habits, build new relationships and focus on recovery. Check with your insurance provider to weigh your treatment options and see which facilities are covered under your plan.

Find Addiction Treatment in Alabama

Resolving to turn your life around and gain freedom from addiction is one of the most critical decisions you or your loved one can make. Contact a treatment provider today.