Biloxi, Mississippi Drug Abuse Rehab

Biloxi, Mississippi, Alcohol and Drug Addiction Information

Biloxi, Mississippi has a population of  50,644 with an average household size of 2.421 and is located in Harrison County and lies on the Mississippi Sound with barrier islands scattered off the coast and into the Gulf of Mexico.

Hurricane Katrina in August, 2005, caused massive damage to the Gulf Coast including Biloxi. The state’s Governor stated that 90% of the buildings on the coast in Biloxi had been destroyed along with several of the “floating” casinos which were torn off their supports.

Several years later, the damage is being repaired and over a dozen of the casinos along the water have reopened their doors.

Biloxi is home to Keesler Air Force Base.

The city has many historic landmarks to offer, museums, art galleries, restaurants and parks. Biloxi also has an ongoing drug problem.

Biloxi Mississippi’s Drug Source

The DEA (The US Drug Enforcement Administration)2 reports that marijuana is the most frequently abused and abundantly available drug in Mississippi. Marijuana continues to be the most commonly used drug in Mississippi. Reports indicate it is the gateway drug for teens and young adults who are beginning to experiment with drugs. Although treatment data indicates admission rates for marijuana abuse are moderate, abuse continues to be widespread.

Locally grown marijuana is intended for local consumption.

A higher-grade marijuana is becoming available due to the modern indoor cultivation techniques, influence of Vietnamese gangs and sources in Canada. Mexican marijuana is commonly transported into and through Mississippi along primary transportation routes.

Criminal groups usually transport smaller shipments to reduce the effects of high volume seizures; however, recent reporting indicates the shipments are increasing in size. Local dealers, street gangs, and small ethnic trafficking groups distribute marijuana in the local market.

Methamphetamine is the second most serious drug threat in Mississippi due to increasing availability, the rapid growth of abuse, the threat to human life, and the threat to the environment. Methamphetamine is the fastest growing drug threat in Mississippi. Law enforcement reporting indicates that methamphetamine is replacing crack cocaine as the primary drug threat due to the availability, low cost, and long lasting effect. Methamphetamine generates violent crime and hazardous conditions during production and distribution. Most of the methamphetamine available for resale in Mississippi is produced in and transported from Mexico via the Southwest Border states. Most of the methamphetamine produced in Mississippi is for local consumption and local markets. Caucasian independent groups are the primary producers of methamphetamine manufactured in Mississippi. African American independent groups are becoming involved in the use and distribution of methamphetamine.

Cocaine, primarily crack, is the primary drug threat in Mississippi due to the availability of the drug, its high addiction rate, and its propensity for violence. Cocaine, primarily crack, is the predominant drug threat in Mississippi. Cocaine is widely available and frequently distributed across the state. Cocaine abuse is reported in the metropolitan cities and rural and urban areas. The abuse and distribution of cocaine is associated with more incidents of violent crime than any other drug. Most of the powdered cocaine in the state is transported via private and commercial motor vehicles on Interstates 10 and 20 by Colombian and Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTOs) and African American criminal groups. African American street gangs and local independent dealers convert most of the powdered cocaine into crack cocaine for retail sales.

Heroin is considered a low drug threat in most of Mississippi, although there have been some heroin seizures on the Coast. These seizures were primarily due to the coast’s proximity to New Orleans. Most heroin seizures resulted from interdiction stops destined for eastern states.

Other dangerous drugs are a continuous threat in Mississippi although not to the extent of cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. The threat from club drugs such as MDMA (ecstasy) has remained steady throughout the state. MDMA has become the most prevalent and popular of the “club drugs” in Mississippi. Club drugs are available usually in small quantities throughout the state, especially around university towns.

The diversion of pharmaceutical drugs is a popular means for obtaining drugs illegally. Law enforcement officials report OxyContin abuse continues to be a viable threat. Everything from prescription forgeries to doctor-shopping aids in the diversion process; however, an increasing number of diverted pharmaceutical drugs are transported into Mississippi from Mexico and Southwest Border towns. Internet pharmacies are becoming more popular, despite inflated prices, due to the sites not requiring a prescription or a doctor’s examination. Methadone clinics in neighboring states continue to be a source for the abuse of Methadone by Mississippi residents.

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 Biloxi, 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 Mississippi, and specifically in the city of Biloxi, 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.

Biloxi Drug-Related News Stories

»Ecstasy pills taken off the streets

Treatment Center Changes Needed

Just in the state of Mississippi, 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 Mississippi and across the United States, a variety of techniques and methods are being used. Some of the well known treatment methods in Mississippi 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 Mississippi, so making a decision can be difficult. Unfortunately, many uninformed people in Mississippi go from rehab to rehab looking for the one that is right for them.

In Mississippi, 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 Mississippi 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 Biloxi, Mississippi, 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.

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.

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  Biloxi stats courtesy of www.maps-n-stats.com (Link to Data)
²  DEA Website facts for Mississippi