In Alaska and across the United States, an estimated 12.8 million Americans, about 6 percent of the household population aged twelve and older use illegal street drugs on a regular basis (within the past thirty days). You may be surprised to read that this number of "past-month" drug users has declined by almost 50% from the 1979 high of 25 million illegal street drug users. This decrease represents an extraordinary change in behavior.

Despite the dramatic drop, more than a third of all Americans twelve and older have tried illegal street drugs. Ninety percent of those who have used illegal drugs used marijuana or hashish. Approximately a third used cocaine or took a prescription type drug for nonmedical reasons. About a fifth used LSD. Fortunately, nearly sixty million Americans who used illicit street drugs during their youth stop using drugs once they enter into adulthood.

Many people in Alaska believe that illegal street drugs and the various troubles they cause are not their problem. They have misconceptions that drug users belong to a segment of society different from their own or that drug abuse is remote from their environment. They are wrong. Almost three quarters of drug users are employed and approximately forty-five percent of Americans know someone with a substance abuse problem.

While illegal street drugs and their consequences threaten Alaska families of every socio-economic background, geographic region, educational level, and ethnic and racial identity, the effects of drug use are often felt disproportionally. For example, many less fortunate neighborhoods are plagued by crime and violence because of the illegal street drugs sold in their black markets. People living in Alaska who lack comprehensive health plans and have smaller incomes may be less able to afford Drug Rehabs to overcome drug dependence. What everyone living in Alaska must understand is that nobody is immune to the consequences of drug use. Every family is vulnerable.

Across Alaska, illegal street drugs are a serious problem. Included in this problem are stimulants, depressants and prescription drugs that are taken and sold illegally. The specific effects vary depending on the drug. Most drugs have an addictive effect after only a few uses. Even marijuana can become emotionally addicting. For many taking illegal street drugs, it can interfere with their relationships, health, academics, career, etc.

It is often hard to tell if someone you care about is taking part in illegal street drug abuse. Each drug has its own signs of use and abuse. Drugs can numb the user's memory, impair their judgment, and make it impossible for the user to feel good or function without them. Even drugs like marijuana and cocaine which are not physically addictive (meaning that the user's body needs the drug in order to function), can make the user emotionally dependent. Once a person become used to the "feelings" they get from marijuana, cocaine or other illegal street drugs, they will find it harder and harder to cope with normal everyday ups and downs.

Today, there are a variety of Drug Rehab Programs for illegal street drugs available in Alaska. The differences between the Drug Rehabilitation Centers can sometimes be great, though they are all attempting to achieve the same outcome. The goal of any Drug Rehabilitation Facility is to help the individual achieve a drug free life and return them to being a productive member of society.

How does one know which Drug Rehab Facility option is right for them? This is one of the questions that lays hard on the heart of a person searching for the right Alaska Drug Treatment Facility for illegal street drugs. The ultimate objective of drug addiction treatment is to enable an individual to achieve lasting abstinence, but the immediate objectives are to reduce illegal street drug abuse, improve the recovering addict's ability to function, and minimize the medical and social complications of drug abuse and addiction.

While learning how to live life without illegal street drugs is an important step in the recovery process, it is only the beginning. Once sober, the brain needs time to recover and rebuild connections that have changed while addicted. During this period, depression and cravings to use can be intense and are often very hard to fight. Without support, relapse is very likely. Attending a quality Drug Treatment Facility in Alaska will help the recovering person develop new coping skills to deal with stressful situations and other common triggers for relapse. Without these skills, stressful situations frequently result in relapse.

Most people attempt to do their best and make the most of the experience when they are in a Drug Rehab Program. Relapse commonly occurs when a person leaves a Drug Rehabilitation Program without aspects of their life or other problems being fully handled. It is critical to find a Drug Rehabilitation Program that addresses all aspects of addiction from detox to learning life skills.

When considering a Drug Treatment Program in Alaska, remember that everyone's needs are different. In general, the longer and more intense the illegal street drug use, the longer and more intense the treatment one may need. Regardless of a program's length in weeks or months, follow-through and long-term follow-up care are crucial to recovery. A quality Drug Treatment Facility should address the fact that substance abuse often masks emotional pain and it needs to be addressed as treatment progresses.

An overview of the different types of Drug Rehab Centers for illegal street drugs in Alaska:

• Alaska Counseling (Individual, Group, Couple, or Family Therapy) for Illegal Street Drugs: This form of recovery works best in conjunction with other types of Drug Rehabilitation Programs or as follow up support. Looking at one's issues from a different perspective can help to identify the root cause of their drug usage and can be beneficial in helping them learn how to make more constructive choices in their life.
• Alaska Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for Illegal Street Drugs: While in this form of drug addiction recovery, addicts usually meet 3 days a week and 2-4 hours per day. These relapse prevention Drug Rehabilitation Facilities are often scheduled around work or school.
• Alaska Medical Detoxification for Illegal Street Drugs: Often, this is the first step of the recovery process before being admitted into a Drug Rehab Program for illegal street drugs in Alaska. Admission to this level of treatment requires an assessment. Sometimes medical detox is started from a trip to the emergency room due to overdose or drug related issues.
• Alaska Narcotics Anonymous for Illegal Street Drugs: Narcotics Anonymous meetings, often referred to as NA, are informal meetings held in your local area. NA has branches all over the country and in almost every city nationwide. These meeting are based on the twelve steps of recovery and many addicts and alcoholics have found free and effective help at these meetings. However, NA programs are not "treatment." The meetings are not supported and held by medical professionals.
• Alaska Partial hospitalization for Illegal Street Drugs: This type of treatment is considered relapse prevention and usually consists of meetings 3-5 days a week, 4-6 hours per day. This type of treatment is for people who require medical monitoring on an outpatient basis.
• Alaska Residential Rehab for Illegal Street Drugs: Residential treatment is when the recovering addict lives at the Drug Rehab Program while undergoing intensive treatment during the day. Residential treatment normally varies from 30-90 days.
• Alaska Sober Living for Illegal Street Drugs: Sober living homes are comprised of recovering addicts who support each other and provide an alcohol and drug free environment. This type of illegal street drug rehab is normally used after more intensive rehabilitation such as residential treatment. Sober living facilities are useful if returning home too soon is a strong trigger for relapse or the recovering addict has no home.