Mississippi residents struggling with opioid addiction now have more options than ever before. While The Magnolia State already has a wide breadth of outpatient programs and residential care centers for folks of all ages, the state’s Department of Health (MSDH) has expanded its substance use disorder program statewide. This means addiction treatment is now closer to home for hundreds of thousands of people who need it.
According to estimates based on 2022–2023 data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, nearly 327,000 Mississippians age 12 and older could have benefited from substance use disorder treatment. Yet many never got it, until now.
Expansion for Mississippi Residents
The program began as a pilot in six counties and has since grown to serve all 82 counties across the state. State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney says the goal is straightforward: get people into care before they hit rock bottom.
“Substance use disorder care should be available earlier, closer to home, and as part of normal health care,” observed Dr. Edney, “not only after a person reaches crisis.”
In addition to inpatient and outpatient options, MSDH also wants to provide this care in the home to make it more flexible and accessible. Home service can be a game-changer for Mississippians in rural areas with limited transportation or clinic access.
The Opioid Crisis in Mississippi
MSDH records show about 708 Mississippians died from opioid overdoses in 2023. Overdose deaths jumped by more than 33% from 2020 to 2021, including a 51% increase due to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. In 2021, opioid deaths totaled 788. Nearly a third of those victims were under age 35.
While being male and white are identified risk factors, MSDH reports that opioid deaths have shown steady increases in the Black population since 2021, underscoring that this crisis cuts across all communities.
Understanding Opioid Addiction
Opioids are a class of drugs that include prescription painkillers like oxycodone and hydrocodone, as well as illegal drugs like heroin and illicitly made fentanyl. Common signs of opioid addiction include:
- Needing larger amounts of the drug to feel the same effect
- Continuing to use despite negative consequences at work, home, or in relationships
- Withdrawal symptoms such as sweating, nausea, muscle aches, and anxiety when not using
- Spending significant time seeking, using, or recovering from opioids
- Neglecting responsibilities or pulling away from family and friends
According to MSDH, an average of five years pass before someone’s dependence on a substance causes enough problems to make them seek specialty care, even though many patients are open to discussing it much sooner. That early window, officials say, is when intervention is most effective.
Mississippi Uses Technology to Reach More Patients
Mississippi uses the Epic electronic health record system and MyChart patient portals to support earlier screening, standardized intervention, and follow-up care. The system uses a risk scale to match patients with the right level of support, from positive reinforcement at lower risk levels to more involved therapy approaches at higher ones.
Patients at the highest risk who live in rural areas may receive a follow-up video call from an addiction specialist. The process removes geographic barriers that have long kept rural Mississippians from getting help.
Mississippi is one of the few states in the nation with the ability to directly provide clinic-based treatment for opioid addiction, giving it a unique advantage in fighting this crisis head-on.
Finding Addiction Treatment Centers in Mississippi
If you or someone you love is showing signs of opioid addiction, help is now available in every county in Mississippi. Look through our directory or call
800-681-1058
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