Wilmington, Delaware, Alcohol and Drug Addiction Information
Wilmington, Delaware has a population of 72,664 with an average household size of 2.391 and is located in New Castle County. Wilmington is the largest town in the state.
Wilmington experienced a boom when the many national banks and financial institutions relocated to the area after the Financial Center Development Act of 1981 which substantially liberalized the laws governing banks operating in the state. In 1986, the state adopted legislation to attract international finance and insurance companies as well.
Drugs and gangs gained a greater profile in the city throughout the 1980s and 1990s, as did many cities across the country. As a result of these trends, the city encountered an escalation of violent crimes (murder, assault, armed robbery), and put Wilmington among the nation’s most dangerous cities for its size.
Wilmington Delaware’s Drug Source
The DEA (The US Drug Enforcement Administration)2 reports that heroin, powder cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana are the four most available, popular, and trafficked illegal drugs in Delaware. However, clandestinely manufactured drugs, such as methamphetamine and club drugs, such as MDMA3 (ecstasy), are also readily available to users of various ages and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Cocaine, in powder and crack forms, remains increasingly available and popular in Delaware. Both forms are available in various quantities to users located both in the inner city neighborhoods of Wilmington as well as in smaller cities and towns across the state. Quantities of powder cocaine are also available to local distributors who convert or “cook” the powder cocaine into crack cocaine. Due to its wide availability and relative ease of use (smoking), the popularity and use of crack cocaine continues to increase in Delaware.
Heroin is available primarily in northern Delaware, as distributors relocate from source cities (Philadelphia and New York) to Wilmington in order to escape the attention of law enforcement, attract new customers, and sell to existing customers from surrounding areas, including southeastern Pennsylvania and Maryland. Although Philadelphia is the primary source for heroin distributors and users in Delaware, reports indicate that larger quantities of heroin were also available and distributed in Wilmington.
The increasing availability of cheaper, higher purity heroin over the last few years has caused concern in Delaware over a growing heroin use problem that reaches all socioeconomic backgrounds. Heroin is popular among teens and young adults, who consume heroin either by itself or in combination with cocaine or alcohol, a combination that typically leads to overdose deaths. In Delaware, the perception of heroin remaining a problem only in the region’s major metropolitan areas is no longer accurate.
Marijuana is readily available in varying quantities in Delaware, such that it is easily obtained and used by individuals from a variety of ethnic populations and socioeconomic sectors. Recreational use of marijuana is popular among high school and college age students. Adults remain the predominant users of marijuana, especially in large social gatherings, such as rock concerts. Reports indicate that marijuana is typically smoked in combination with crack cocaine, heroin, and PCP.
MDMA (ecstasy) is primarily available at rave parties and nightclubs in Wilmington and Rehoboth Beach (particularly during the summer), but remains available to and popular among teenagers and young adults on college campuses across the state.
Current investigations indicate that diversion of immediate release oxycodone products (such as Percocet®, Percodan®, Tylox® and Roxicet®) continue to be a problem in Delaware. Primary methods of diversion being reported are illegal sale and distribution by health care professionals and workers, especially pharmacy technicians who are not licensed in Delaware, “doctor shopping” (going to a number of doctors to obtain prescriptions for a controlled pharmaceutical), forged prescriptions, and the Internet.
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 Wilmington, 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.
Wilmington Area Drug Related Arrests
December 29, 2008, StarNewsOnline ran this story: “Authorities Seize Drugs After Chase Through Wilmington” A suspect in a drug case led New Hanover County sheriff’s deputies on a chase Monday afternoon, officials said. The pursuit began around 3:30 p.m. near the intersection of Pinecliff Drive and South College Road, and ended on Military Cutoff near Wrightsville Avenue, according to office spokesman Charles Smith.
Deputies arrested the driver and seized marijuana and cocaine after the pursuit, Smith said.
(full news story)
January 4, 2009, StarNewsOnline ran this story: “Victim’s Family Asks Why Accused Heroin Dealer is Free.” (Excerpt) On Nov. 9, Guinn, 21, overdosed on drugs, including heroin, and died a few days later at New Hanover Regional Medical Center.
EMS workers found her at the home of 21-year-old Michael John S. Jr. – who Guinn had known years earlier – and who was out on bond awaiting trial on numerous charges when Guinn overdosed.
His pending charges include heroin trafficking and robbery with a dangerous weapon, according to court records.
One of the allegations is that S. used 5728 Highgrove Place – the house where Guinn would later overdose – for drug purposes.
S. is not charged in connection with Guinn’s death.
But that Guinn was found at his home after her overdose has led her parents to question how authorities handled his pending cases.
“Why isn’t he still in jail?” John McIntosh said. “I don’t understand why this happened.” Guinn’s mother and father also questioned how much police have investigated the circumstances surrounding their daughter’s overdose.
(full news story)
The Damage to Society
In the State of Delaware, and specifically in the city of Wilmington, 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 Delaware, 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 Delaware and across the United States, a variety of techniques and methods are being used. Some of the well known treatment methods in Delaware 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 Delaware, so making a decision can be difficult. Unfortunately, many uninformed people in Delaware go from rehab to rehab looking for the one that is right for them.
In Delaware, 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 Delaware 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 Wilmington, Delaware, 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.
Narconon Riverbend helps END addiction and alcoholism FOR GOOD.
Narconon Riverbend produces graduates who are DRUG FREE AND CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. Narconon Riverbend has a success rate in excess of 70%, as compared to 15-20% for more traditional treatments. Narconon Riverbend is a long-term treatment facility, something that is more and more vital in fully handling the onslaught of newer and more potent substances, including a dramatic increase in prescription drug abuse.
The Narconon program steps are entirely drug-free; that is, the Narconon drug rehab program does not use drugs or medications to solve the problems caused by drugs, but does use nutrition and nutritional supplements as an important component of its delivery. Thus the program is neither a psychiatric nor medical, but a social education model of rehabilitation.
A Narconon Program Graduate is someone:
- 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.
Click to see PDF of brochure now.Call now and request a copy of Healing Addicted Lives written by Gary W. Smith, Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor and Director of Narconon Arrowhead Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation and Education Center.
Call anytime to speak with one of our counselors about our program. We will take the time to answer your questions whether it be for yourself or a loved one. It is possible to replace the loss and pain of alcohol or drug addiction with a productive, enjoyable life.
Call now (877) 340-3602.
1 Wilmington stats courtesy of http://www.maps-n-stats.com/ (Link to Data)
2 DEA Website facts for Delaware
3 MDMA: Ecstasy (Full Definition)
Drug Rehab by State