Portland, Maine has a population of  64,249 with an average household size of 2.08¹ and is located in Cumberland County; it is the largest city in the state. Portland's nickname is The Forest City. The city is located on a peninsula beside Casco Bay on the Gulf of Maine and the Atlantic Ocean. Oregon's Portland was named for Portland Maine. Portland was the original capital for Maine, but in 1832 it was moved to Augusta.

Portland has evolved over the past few decades from economically relying on fishing, manufacturing and agriculture to more of a service-based economy. Several national financial services are based out of Portland including Bank of America, Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Aetna and Fidelity Investments.

Portland is the birthplace of the "Italian Sandwich" and has developed quite the reputation for the quality of restaurants and eateries. The Food Network in 2007 voted Portland one of the top three "Delicious Destinations of the Year." Several historical landmarks can be found throughout the area. The City offers several museums, art galleries, and performing arts groups such as the Portland Symphony Orchestra. Portland also has an ongoing drug problem

Portland Maine's Drug Source
The DEA (The US Drug Enforcement Administration)² reports that marijuana continues to be the most commonly abused drug in Maine and reports indicate that it is the gateway drug for teens and young adults to experiment with other illicit drugs. High-grade marijuana is available due to modern indoor cultivation techniques. Locally grown marijuana is usually intended for local consumption; however, the cheaper Mexico-produced product has made local production less profitable.

Cocaine, primarily crack, is the predominant drug threat in Maine. The threat is derived from the high rate of addiction and violence associated with the drug. Cocaine is widely available and frequently distributed across the state. Cocaine abuse is reported in the metropolitan cities and rural areas. The abuse and distribution of cocaine is associated with many incidents involving violent crimes. Most of the powdered cocaine transported into Maine is converted into crack cocaine.

Heroin is considered a low drug threat in most of Maine, except in New Orleans, primarily due to availability and cost. Heroin abuse in Maine, especially New Orleans, is historically cyclical.

Methamphetamine continues to be a major drug threat in Maine. Law enforcement reporting indicates that, in some areas, methamphetamine is replacing crack cocaine as the primary drug threat due to its availability, low cost and long lasting effects. Methamphetamine production and distribution generates violent crimes and hazardous conditions.

Though most drugs are either declining or holding steady in their abuse or distribution, "Club Drug" abuse and distribution among teenagers and young adults is on the rise in Maine. Police and treatment counselors throughout the state report an increase in the availability and abuse of MDMA (ecstasy), Ketamine, Rohypnol, LSD, and GHB. GHB and MDMA are the drugs of choice and the end-users are young Caucasians at all economic levels.

The abuse of pharmaceutical drugs continues to rise at an alarming rate. Law enforcement officials report OxyContin, hydrocodone and Xanax abuse continues to be a viable threat. Pharmaceutical drugs are diverted as a means of distribution into the illicit market. Abusers and distributors acquire pharmaceutical drugs via prescription forgeries and/or “doctor shopping” in the diversion process. Some of the diverted pharmaceutical drugs are brought into Maine from Mexico and Southwestern Border cities usually by Caucasian local independent distributors. Many abusers utilize the Internet to obtain prescription drugs from sources throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, and the Caribbean. Methadone overdoses have risen significantly in the past few years. Pain management clinics have opened in every major city in the state and pose an enormous threat to the communities; however, after a major seizure in late 2005, the threat in the New Orleans area has reduced. The pain management clinics that are illegally prescribing narcotics to addicts are considered a “pill mill.” Lousisana has instituted new laws for opening pain management clinics in an effort to curtail the threat in the communities.   

The Dwindling Spiral Will Continue
One thing is for certain, for a drug addict, the dwindling spiral will continue on its downward path unless action is taken. NOW is the time to do something before the addicted person winds up in jail or dead of an overdose or accident. Unfortunately past failed attempts to overcome addiction only further depress the individual so it comes as no surprise that fear and hesitation. 
In the city of Portland, there is an increased need for effective drug and alcohol rehab and addiction treatment centers as drug and alcohol use continues to escalate. Drug use erodes the quality of life not only for the user, but for their families and communities. Marriages and families are torn apart by mistrust, betrayal, fear and anger. Careers are ruined; companies lose millions of dollars in lost production time; cities and suburbs become degraded by the increased crime and violence that goes with drug trafficking and drug addiction. To do nothing for the addict, should not be an option. Something can be done; help is available.

The Damage to Society
In the State of Maine, and specifically in the city of Portland, the effects of drug and alcohol abuse goes way past the the damage done to the addicts themselves. In terms of time lost on the job, to the health system inundated by illness and overdoses to communities harmed by the crime rate caused by addicts looking to steal anything in order to get their next fix, to families living a nightmare as they watch helplessly as their loved one goes further down the chutes. The rollercoaster of emotions, concern and anger seems like a never ending  ride the abuser puts his friends and family through. Failures in the past with drug rehab centers further numb the addict to any hope of a future without drugs. It truly can appear hopeless.

Treatment Center Changes Needed
Just in the state of Maine, there are many different types of drug rehab and treatment facilities. In the United States, there are thousands of drug rehab and treatment centers. Of course the common goal of all addiction treatment programs is to help end addiction for the individual. In Maine and across the United States, a variety of techniques and methods are being used. Some of the well known treatment methods in Maine include the twelve step method, relapse prevention, one-on-one counseling, drug rehabilitation, behavioral modification, cognitive therapy, support groups, sober living, therapeutic communities, AA , NA, inpatient, and outpatient drug rehab programs. There are many types of treatment centers available in Maine, so making a decision can be difficult. Unfortunately, many uninformed people in Maine go from rehab to rehab looking for the one that is right for them.
In Maine, there are many attempts being made to meet the needs of drug addicts, but statistics show success rates to be dismally low. What is needed and wanted is a drug treatment which not only handles physical addiction, but finds the underlying reasons why a person turns to drugs in order to free the person forever. What Maine addicts, alcoholics and their family, friends and loved ones need is a real and effective drug rehab treatment center. One where they are not on a time schedule or use other drugs to get the addict off the original drugs. The addict needs a reliable proven program where when they are done, their drug addiction is a thing of the past and they are now able to live full productive lives free of the stronghold of drugs or alcohol.

Choosing a Drug Rehab and Addiction Treatment Program
What should the goal be of a drug rehab center? Clean and sober for 30 days? While that might be a good short term goal, many treatment centers and 12 step programs still leave the drug addict fighting a continuing battle with addiction. Once an addict always an addict; or it's a mental disorder they can do nothing about. When choosing a drug rehab center for yourself or a loved one from Portland, Maine, it is important to become educated on the different types of drug rehab and what the end results are. 

Should the Drug Rehab Location Matter When it Comes to Finding a Solution to Addiction?
Drug and alcohol addiction typically involves habitual routines in the environmental scope of the individual, i.e. the locations of their drug or alcohol use, the people they associated with in the activities of drug or alcohol use, etc. Drug or alcohol addiction is not just drug and alcohol use, it revolves around people and things in their immediate environment which help to trigger the addictive behavior. The abusers location & routines of drug and alcohol use further trigger drug and alcohol use. It is the constant and seemingly unstoppable drug or alcohol use and the hopelessness of day to day existence which perpetuates the problem and inhibits the native desire to stop ruining their life through the use of drugs and alcohol.

The above factor should not be over looked when considering a treatment center location. The first 2 weeks of treatment are always the most difficult & There many factors at work to make this so. In addition to what has been covered above, a more basic factor is this; people are creatures of habit. Even overwhelmingly positive & beneficial changes in life, such as the birth of a child or a new job does not guarantee the individual will have no thoughts of missing past negative activities such as, drug or alcohol use, drug or drinking acquaintances and other associated activities. Factually this is the normal reactive auto response of most human beings; to do what they are familiar with; good or bad. It is not really that they yearn for these things, it is just all that they have known for some time. If the abuser is close to home when overwhelming feelings manifest themselves, there is a good chance he or she will leave and get back to what they know, drug addiction, as it is not very far away . Due to these factors, attending a drug rehab close to home is seldom the correct treatment option for chronic drug or alcohol abusers. It is extremely therapeutic to be distanced from their former association with drug dealers, bars, the cabinet where the alcohol was kept, the cigar box where the cocaine was stored, etc. All these triggers make the task of sobriety seem insurmountable to the chronic drug or alcohol abuser as these triggers continuously stimulate a reminder of their past addictive behaviors.

For individuals with a severe drug or alcohol addiction problem, choosing a long term inpatient treatment program is another key to a successful outcome.

By providing a new, safe trigger free environment, distanced from past negative associations and surroundings for an extended period of time, the chance for success increases dramatically.

Our program provides people with positive circumstances to increase their chances for a successful recovery. The vast majority of students entering our program, around (80%), are from out of state or from other countries.

• Who has completed the Narconon drug rehab program;
• Who knows he is, in fact, capable of living a drug-free life thereafter;
• Who has improved his or her ability to learn and thus can accept new ideas on how to change life for the better;
• Who has personally absorbed the fundamentals of ethics and morality well enough that he or she can be productive and contributive to society and will have no further troubles with the justice system;
• Who knows how to solve the problems of life in a rational manner to the best of his ability, without the use of mind-altering drugs.