Iowa doesn't have an especially large number of detox centers. With a population of just under 3.2 million people, there doesn't need to be dozens of facilities to fully support residents of the state. The majority of treatment providers are located in a band across the state. The north end of this band is marked by US-20 and the southern end is marked by Interstate 80. All of the detoxes in the state of Iowa fall within this band or just a few miles outside of it.
Finding help for substance use disorders isn't an easy thing to do, but Iowa has many treatment options for drug and alcohol treatment. Once detox is complete it is highly recommended to enter a treatment center for continuing care. There are nearly 200 drug and alcohol rehab centers in Iowa. This includes 8 centers that provide inpatient treatment, 29 that offer residential treatment, and 162 that provide outpatient treatment.
Substance abuse and mental health issues occur alongside one another quite often. Known as a dual diagnosis, this can complicate the treatment process. In a 2020 survey by Mental Health America, Iowa ranked in 23rd place for overall mental health in the nation. Finding a dual-diagnosis treatment center can greatly increase someone's chances of recovery. Iowa has 99 of these types of centers spread across the state. These centers provide specialized treatment plans that provide more mental health services than standard rehab facilities.
Getting help from a rehab center is an important first step. Once a rehab program has been completed it is recommended to continue with aftercare. This could include behavioral therapy and support groups. Prescription drugs may be necessary for some people as well. Drug and alcohol addiction is a difficult challenge to overcome, but it is possible. There are hundreds of support group meetings all across Iowa each week. The people in these meetings are walking the same path and they can be an invaluable resource to recovery. If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse in Iowa, then there are many options for help.
Drug Abuse in Iowa
Iowa has had some concerning drug use trends over the past few years. In particular, drugged driving has overtaken drunk driving as the largest concern according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety. There have also been significantly more positive drug screens in drug or alcohol-related car accidents. Benzodiazepines and THC have shown up significantly more in the last few years. Amphetamines and opiates have also increased, but not nearly as much as benzos and THC.
As bad as the opioid epidemic has been in Iowa over the past decade, the problem is only worsening. As of 2018, Iowa healthcare providers wrote 49.3 opioid prescriptions for every 100 Iowans. This is lower than the national average but is still enough opioids for nearly half of the population of Iowa. In 2017, Iowa saw double the number of pharmacy robberies than in 2016. Police determined that the main target of these robberies was prescription opioids. Aside from theft, there is a large drug trafficking presence in Iowa. There is an assortment of Mexican cartels moving drugs through the state. As far as local drug distribution is concerned, the Black Gangster Disciples is the major entity responsible for organized drug dealing in the state.
Domestic drug production is an issue as well. Iowa is home to a large number of methamphetamine labs. In 2017, there were 51 meth labs that were discovered and seized by law enforcement which is significantly more than most other states. Production aside, crystal meth use in Iowa continues to be a major problem. The age group most heavily affected is 25 to 44 years old and men and women experience similar meth use rates in Iowa. Crystal meth-related deaths have also increased significantly in Iowa over the past few years. In 2012 there were 29 meth-related deaths. This increased by 224% to 94 deaths by 2018.
