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August 13 2020

10 Most Common Addictions in Utah

admin Addiction addiction, alcohol, drug

Do you or someone you love suffer from an addiction? Do you live in Utah and wish to learn more information? First, you should know that you are not alone. Utah is known for being “squeaky clean.” But in reality, its residents are just as vulnerable as any other addict. More than 11,800 people in the state have experienced an opioid overdose since 2016. Thus, there is an underlying issue with habits in “The Beehive State” that many people overlook. The opioid outbreak continues to advance into Utah. However, other drugs, alcohol, and behavioral issues also affect its residents.

Sixty percent of the people in Utah are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Recently, the church warned its members that coffee and vaping are banned. Also, marijuana is forbidden unless a professional physician prescribes it. These bans may seem cynical to some. But some of them do make the list of Utah’s top 10 addictions. Let’s go over the list of the top 10 habits that are in Utah.

If you find your addiction on this list, call Better Help Addiction Care at (385) 327-7318 to get started on the road to recovery. Above all, we have professionals standing by, and they are happy to help you create a healthier and sober lifestyle.

1. Cigarettes

First, smoking cigarettes is a widespread addiction. Like many across the country, people in Utah are trying to give up smoking cigarettes. However, there’s a crossover of people who have turned to vape to get their nicotine fix.

In Utah, the adult cigarette smoking rate decreased from 11.2 percent in 2010 to 8.7 percent in 2016. According to the May 2018 report from the Utah Department of Health, in 2016, Utah adults ages 25 to 34 reported the highest cigarette smoking rate. They totaled at 12.4 percent. But for teens and young adults, the main concern is vaping. Since 2011, Utah has seen a sharp increase in the use of electronic cigarettes. The current use of vape among Utah’s youth grew from 1.9 percent in 2011 to 10.5 percent in 2015.

Although it is popular; having addictions to nicotine still has devastating consequences. If you or someone you love is suffering from addictions, call us today. In addition, we will be happy to provide you more information on what to do in this situation.

2. Alcohol

Alcohol may be legal, but it’s just as dangerous as any other drug. For instance, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, excessive alcohol use is responsible for 88,000 deaths annually. Each year, excessive alcohol use claims the life of one in ten adults between 20 and 64 years old. Utah ranks seventh in the nation for the most alcohol poisoning related deaths.

Excessive alcohol causes many physical problems. For example, someone may experience:

Liver disease
Cancer
Accidental injuries
Violent Behavior
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, but only if pregnant

If you or someone you care for is suffering from alcohol addiction, do not hesitate. Call us today. Our experts will be able to provide you the help that you need. Above all, we can work on getting you back on your feet together.

3. Sex

The debate over if sex addiction is a disease continues. Some research says it’s a real disorder. Others claim it is just a symptom of a mental illness or substance use disorder. But in June 2018, the World Health Organization included compulsive sexual behavior disorder in its International Classification of Diseases.

For Lynda Maxfield, a columnist at The Daily Utah Chronicle at the University of Utah, the choice is proof enough.

“Although it frequently and wrongfully happens in Utah, sexual addiction cannot simply be dismissed as a moral failing,” Maxfield wrote. “It is an impulse control disorder that requires specialized professional counseling to achieve sobriety and is usually coupled with participation in a 12-step recovery program.”

Currently, about 12 million Americans have a sex addiction disorder. About 116,000 are residing in Utah.

Patrick J. Carnes is the founder of the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals. In an article for the Journal of Addictions Research & Therapy, Carnes wrote that the following factors make sex addiction worse or cause the condition to show:

A history of abuse that might have occurred sexually or physically
Presence of co-addictions such as drugs, gambling, and alcoholism
Existence of other psychiatric sicknesses such as
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Narcissistic or borderline personality disorder
- Impulse control problems
Dysfunctional love in childhood
Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)
Anxiety

4. Gambling

The “high” of gambling has the same effect on some people as drugs on others. But as with all addictions, it comes at a price. That price is not just debt. Currently, there are about 8.3 million people with addictions to gambling in the United States. It is estimated that 2.2 percent of Utah adults have a problem.

What makes that odd is, Utah has no legalized gambling.

According to WalletHub, Utah ranks 50 overall as the most gambling-addicted state. Meaning they are the least addicted state when it comes to gambling. Yet Utah ranks 22nd in the “Gambling Problem & Treatment”. WalletHub bases the ranking results on the following:

The number of adults aged 18 years and older
Gambling counselors around the area
“Gamblers Anonymous” meetings
Presence of a National Council
Employee training on gambling management
The appearance of gambling addiction treatment programs
Gambling-related arrests

The state is part of the Utah-Idaho Council on Problem Gambling. Its job is to “increase public awareness of problem gambling, increase the availability of treatment for problem gamblers and their families, and to create education and prevention programs for youth and adults, including knowledge of responsible gaming practices.”

5. Marijuana

As stated earlier, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints prohibits the use of marijuana unless prescribed by a doctor. But that hasn’t stopped thousands of Utah residents from using marijuana for fun.

Around 127,000 people used marijuana in Utah in the last year. Salt Lake City opened its first medical marijuana dispensary in March. But the laws against recreational use and possession are still very effective. For example, the law says:

Possession of less than one ounce of weed is a crime. Leading up to six months in jail and $1,000 in fines if found guilty.
- The fines and jail time rise along with how much a person is holding.
It is a felony to sell any amount of cannabis in Utah. The highest penalty of five years in prison and $5,000 fine.
Growing marijuana gets the same punishment as a possession.
Owning and selling any drug equipment, especially to someone underage, also brings prison time and fines.

6. Prescription Painkillers

The opioid pandemic is pitying no state. Whether people become dependant on the drugs legally or illegally. The price to pay is high.
In Utah, 437 drug overdose deaths in 2018 involved painkillers. Deaths involving prescriptions, heroin, or synthetic drugs other than methadone were at 306, 156, and 83.

Just as troubling is the number of Utah providers giving out prescriptions, in 2018, health-care providers wrote 57.1 opioid prescriptions for every 100 persons. That’s higher than the national average of 51.4 drugs.

However, if you have addictions to pain killers or are worried that someone you love may, call us today. We have a team of experts ready to help get you the help you need. Start turning your life around today.

7. Caffeine

Yes, caffeine is a drug, and it is the most widely used drug globally, according to an article in the Journal of Caffeine Research. In the U.S., more than 90 percent of adults use it regularly. They think nothing of drinking several cups of coffee or soda throughout the day.

If you consume low to moderate caffeine doses, you likely do not put your health at risk. In addition, if you are a caffeine-guzzler, you’re facing an increased risk of health consequences such as heart problems and difficulties during pregnancy.

Jana Riess, a church member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and an author told the Los Angeles Times, said that she was shocked to find that four in ten active church members, under age 51, drank coffee during the past six months.

While Mormons may have an official ban on coffee, it might do non-Mormon religions some good to cut down on their consumption, too.

8. Meth

When it comes to illegal stimulants, meth is still on top. The opioid epidemic has pushed meth out in some areas, but it’s springing up again in other parts of the country.

Methamphetamine has common other names. For example, it is also known as:

Meth
Ice
Crystal
Glass
Speed
Chalk
Tina

Meth is a human-made, highly addictive stimulant that activates the pleasure section of the brain. What could be more dangerous and addictive than that?

In past decades, meth was made using typical household and drug store items. So, small laboratories were able to set up in a variety of locations. However, the number of meth labs in Utah dropped sharply from 107 in 2004 to just one in 2014.

In recent years, much of the meth production has shifted to “super labs” in Mexico. Because they create a purer and more potent product, the results are a more intense high and additional addictions.

While the local labs are mostly dismantled, this new meth remains a significant problem in Utah. Individuals seeking meth treatment represent roughly 28 percent of all substance abuse treatment admissions.

What’s worse is that meth doesn’t just affect the user. It affects everyone around the user. For example, meth is associated with:

Identity theft
Abuse
Criminal activity

In addition, meth is also often a relevant factor in family violence, carelessness, and mistreatment of children.

If someone you love, or even yourself, is suffering from meth addictions, call us today. We are here to help you in any way that you need. Our team of professionals is here with many resources to help you start your new life to sobriety.

9. Stimulants

Those looking to pull an all-night study session are turning to stimulants. For instance, Adderall and Ritalin. These prescription pills are as addictive as many street drugs. They are so addictive that people build a tolerance to them fast. Because of this, to get the same high, higher amounts are needed.

Prescribing stimulants for ADHD is common. However, some providers may be prescribing the drug too much. Meanwhile, other people are borrowing the drug from friends or just buying it on the street.

Currently, there are around 330,000 Americans with addictions to stimulants. Up to a third of college-age people may be misusing stimulants like Adderall.

All drugs carry risks. Risks are common when battling addiction. Stimulants are no exception. For example, some hazards include:

Sleep problems
Depression
Fear
Serious heart problems
Stroke
High levels of dopamine

Do you know someone that is suffering from an addiction to prescription drugs? Are you suffering from an addiction to prescription drugs? Call us today, and we can help you get out of this habit and live a happier and safer life.

10. Heroin

For the first time in six years, the good news is that the number of heroin-related deaths in Utah dropped in 2018. Of course, people are still dying.

In 2017, 360 people died of an opioid-related overdose in Utah. Prescription opioids were involved in 237 of these deaths, while heroin was involved in 159 deaths. The numbers don’t always add up because Utah counts deaths involving heroin and a prescription opioid individually.

However, the numbers show a 19.8 percent decrease in overall opioid-related deaths from 2016 to 2017. Prescription opioid deaths lowered by 16 percent, and heroin deaths decreased by 14.5 percent over the same timeframe.

But the facts are still shocking. For example:

5 People in Utah die every week from an opioid overdose
80 percent of heroin users started with prescription opioids

Heroin addiction is relentless. And because withdrawal is so extreme, many people addicted to the drug find it very difficult to quit.

Finally, if you need help quitting meth contact Better Health Addiction Care. We are here to provide you with all of the support and resources needed to start you on a new sobriety path.

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