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Vermont, Maine struggle with opiate addiction epidemic

By Staff Writer

Many individuals turn to hard drugs to cope with the stress of every day life, but opiate addiction was virtually unheard of in rural regions of the country, including areas of New England. Recently, Maine and Vermont made it on to the list of the top states dealing with an addiction epidemic, and local authorities are struggling to keep crime under control.

Painkiller and opiate addiction has become common among young adults, according to WCAX-TV. Expert Donald West of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center told the news source that there were virtually no cases of opiate dependency reported 10 years ago. Now, more individuals are finding the substance for cheap and abusing it at a higher rate than ever before.

Police lieutenant Phil Roberts told the news source that drugs have caused many people to carry out crimes that may not have otherwise been committed. A string of robberies had recently been reported in Vermont pharmacies by individuals looking to get their fix, as opposed to money.

Approximately 8 percent of Americans age 12 and older admitted to abusing illicit substances within a 30-day period in 2008, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Drug rehab programs may be able to help addicts detoxify and reduce crime rates.

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