Scope of Problem

Georgia has become a key southeast transshipment and distribution hub for illicit substances from all over the country. Its proximity to Florida, major metropolitan areas, and many major highways have made it easier than ever to bring drugs in and ship them out, making quality Georgia drug and alcohol rehab more crucial than ever. Illegal drug abuse, sales and distribution are particularly large problems in Atlanta, where Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) are constantly funneling in product for United States dissemination. Heroin and cocaine continue to be the dominant causes of Georgia drug and alcohol rehab admissions in Atlanta, as well as the rest of the state. Georgia is also battling a rampant domestic and international methamphetamine and marijuana problem, while smugglers from Europe and the northeast flood Atlanta with more and more club drugs for statewide consumption and over-the-boarder distribution.

GA Drug Rehab

The myriad illegal drugs available in Atlanta and the rest of the state require a diverse and responsible approach to GA drug rehab. The withdrawal symptoms and psychological implications of addiction require knowledgeable and thorough treatment and counseling. There are numerous quality GA drug rehabs in which patients can get the help they need in a professional, compassionate and effective manner. Patients are encouraged to do careful research with the help of a friend or a loved one before selecting their GA drug rehab option, as many differ in quality and methodology.

GA Alcohol Rehab

There are many circumstances through which residents seek GA alcohol rehab. The state is home to a thriving bar and college scene, and also exhibits a considerable class distinction between its urban and rural areas. In response to the many potential and existing alcohol-related pitfalls, an abundance of GA alcohol rehab centers have sprung up all across the state. Choosing the right GA alcohol rehab option on your own can be an overwhelming task, particularly if you’re disoriented from consistent untreated alcohol abuse, as so many patients are. The support and assistance of loved ones is your best source of strength in this endeavor.

GA Detox

Most GA detox facilities treat this step in the recovery process with the utmost importance and professionalism. Mindful of the critical nature of a successful detox, the personnel at a majority of the GA detox facilities place a high premium on patient comfort and symptom management, an indispensable quality for effective and manageable detoxification. The wrong GA detox facility can be a destructive and insurmountable roadblock on a patient’s journey toward wellness. Improperly managed detox will almost certainly put the patient through unnecessary pain, and may discourage them from continuing the rehabilitation process.

GA Marijuana Abuse

Though generally regarded as a lesser or more benign issue, GA marijuana abuse is the most common illegal drug problem in the state. International smuggling through the south by Mexican organizations combined with increasingly common domestic cultivation on much of the state’s farmland has made GA marijuana abuse a problem for all of the state’s citizens. Both foreign and local Georgia marijuana is moved through the state mainly via private and commercial automobiles. Local Mexican factions tend to control distribution. A lot of patients mention marijuana as the first act in a pathology of more serious substance abuse.

GA Cocaine Addiction

GA cocaine addiction is a problem that has swept through state’s urban areas, and into every other region as well. Consistently named as a leading cause of admissions to the state’s drug rehab facilities, GA cocaine addiction has decimated neighborhoods and given birth to a culture of gangland violence and criminal activity. The drug mainly comes in through the southwest in powder form. When it arrives in Georgia, the lion's share of the powdered product is converted into crack. Colombians control much of the importation. Recent busts have revealed that the state’s ports are ideal routes for maritime shipping and receiving. Crack has become one of the most serious illegal drug problems in Georgia.

GA Heroin Addiction

GA heroin addiction has increased dramatically over the last twenty years. Its affordability and high purity level make it a drug of choice for many of the state’s residents. Recent data indicates that the drug is preferred younger females. Heroin is primarily smuggled into the state from the northeast by Colombian, Mexican and Nigerian organizations. Atlanta remains the lifeline of statewide sales and distribution. The Port of Savannah is a preferred venue for shipment by Colombian DTOs. GA heroin addiction is gradually increasing, and is on pace to become the state’s number-one illegal drug problem if swift action is not taken.

GA Methamphetamine Abuse

GA methamphetamine abuse is set to eclipse cocaine in its scope and severity. Mexican smugglers flood the Atlanta market with their brand of the drug, while clandestine domestic laboratories all across the state cook up their own homegrown versions. GA methamphetamine abuse is now considered by many experts to be the most serious drug problem facing the state. A steady stream of busts reveals that the drug is readily available in high-volume amounts for relatively cheap prices. Recent legislation barring the use of ephedrine in cough medicine has led to only a modest decrease in domestic production.

GA Prescription Drug Abuse

GA prescription drug abuse has spiked in the last ten years. Once a relatively manageable problem largely isolated within the middle class, recreational pharmaceutical abuse now spans all blocs of Georgia’s population. OxyContin, methadone, Valium and Xanax are the reigning kings of recreational prescription abuse. Dependence usually occurs through unscrupulous or incompetent physician practices, unregulated Internet sales, theft of legitimate prescriptions and pharmacy robberies. These drugs are usually brought in from other states and are controlled by numerous organizations once they reach Georgia.

GA Club Drug Abuse

Often used to refer to a family of illegal drugs consisting of MDMA (ecstasy), GHB, LSD and Ketamine, club drugs pose a serious threat to Georgia’s youth and club culture. A particularly serious problem in Atlanta, GA club drug abuse has infiltrated the state’s many colleges and universities. Its accessibility and affordability have made it the perfect alternative for a bar patron looking for a little something extra, or a stressed-out student looking to escape. Ecstasy is the most commonly abused club drug in Georgia, with GHB coming in a close second.

Summary

Methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin continue to compete for the top slot in Georgia’s illegal drug hierarchy, with prescriptions and club drugs also posing severe threats. The declining age of new abusers combined with the state’s unfortunate geographical predicament, place the need for Georgia drug and alcohol rehab front and center. It is only through the prosecution of distributors and the rehabilitation of addicts that Georgia can hope to reverse the effects of the widespread substance abuse problem that has claimed so many of its communities.