THE LITTLEST STATE’S BIGGEST PROBLEM
Maggie Lange

Shocking data shows that, in America, the smallest state also has the biggest drug problem. The national Department of Health and Human Services revealed that for people ages 12 and over, Rhode Island ranked highest for use of marijuana, alternative illicit drugs, and alcohol. Rhode Island was 4.5% above the national average for drugs, and 12% above the national average for consumption of alcohol. At the Department of Health and Human Services, Admiral Delany, a Director in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services noted the Ocean State’s exceptionalism in substance abuse, “A number of the illicit drug use and the non-medical use of prescription drugs – those indicators were high in Rhode Island. And in some cases they weren’t the highest, it was just the combination that Rhode Island was in the top fifth bracket in all the reporting areas.”

Why the Ocean State in particular? When asked why Rhode Islanders turn to these various drugs, Rob Kornacki, the Director of a rehab clinic in Rhode Island called Discovery House said the answer was as varied as the substances, “It’s a function of so many things – availability of drugs, age, employment, history, demographics…”

Rhode Island is no exception to the national trend of increased drug use. Because of the tentatively-titled deprecession, adults are losing their jobs and schools are cutting funding of after-school activities. With more time on their hands, and no meaningful diversions, people of all ages have more time and desire to escape from an upsetting reality.

A recent New York Times study showed a strong correlation between unemployment and drug use. With a steadily high unemployment rate of 12.2%, Rhode Island is no exception to this rule. Fred Trapassi, the vice president of another rehab clinic called Phoenix House, said that substance abuse is inextricably tied to a poor economy, “here on the East Coast, we have seen those increases almost over the same time frame that the economy has dipped and jobs have moved away and people have begun feeling less and less secure about the environment around them. That one drink at the end of the work day can turn into several drinks over the course of the day when they’re no longer working or concerned about their jobs.” Dr. Robin Stern with Kent Hospital in Warwick, Rhode Island says that she has seen a big increase in people needing substance abuse recovery, “I have seen a huge increase – I think a lot of it has to do with economic factors, people losing their jobs. I do think it’s people on the lower end of the socioeconomic scale tend to come in more. Poor, uninsured…”

And when there are people loose their jobs, and then their benefits, and then turn to drugs – they then have a difficult time getting treatment. Rob Kornacki explains the grave results of this vicious cycle, “it’s all about access, it’s all about barriers getting into treatment. The bottom line is that if you need treatment and you can’t get it – that’s where society gets into trouble.”

Of the million people that live in Rhode Island, about 13 thousand enter rehab each year. 20% were for alcohol, 14% for marijuana, and 13% for cocaine. The highest number of entries, however, were for heroin. Above 32% of Ocean Staters seeking help entered for opiates.

Rob Kornacki explains that this is a shift in substances that has particularly affected Rhode Island’s youth, “the pain mediations has really exploded. Those medications are getting into peoples cabinets and it’s easier access It’s not necessarily the drug dealer.”

Even though all ages are facing this problem – youth in Rhode Island face a particularly upsetting fate, says Fred Trapassi, “there are a lot of thing that adolescent need that they’re not getting – case and point the debate taking place now in the state about sports and athletics. When the economy forces to take away those types of activities – when you take away those things kids will turn to other activities, and unfortunately those types of activites are not healthy activites – to fill those gaps.”

With a tentatively recovering economy, maybe Rhode Islanders can recover, and lose their desire to just be sedated.

The BRU Brief airs weekly on 95.5 FM, recapping the week’s top local, national, and international stories, and taking a closer look at the issues of the day in Southern New England. Tune in on Monday nights at 11:00, or stream live at news.wbru.com.