Utah residents who need addiction treatment may have an easier time than people in most other states, according to a recent 48-state study from Legacy Healing Center. The study ranked Utah first for access to treatment for drug addiction and other substance use needs.
Families in Salt Lake City or other large or small cities who’ve been putting off the search should know that their local addiction treatment centers are likelier to have capacity than others in most of the country.
Studies in The Beehive State
Researchers compared how much treatment each state needs against how much access it actually features. Utah had the narrowest gap between those two measures.
The team calculated need using adult and teen illicit drug use, overdose deaths, substance use disorder rates, prescription pain reliever misuse and children living with drug problems. Access was measured via treatment facilities and counselors, Medicaid treatment rates, Narcotics Anonymous meetings and availability of drug treatment during pregnancy.
The study drew on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the FBI and federal other agencies.
Utah’s overall need score came in at about 4.89, the lowest of the 48 states studied. This was compared against a high access score of 22.4. The study also reported an adult illicit drug use rate of 12.27%, teens at 5.2% and overdose deaths at 21.4 per 100,000 people.
Utah Experiences
Regina Dickinson is a licensed clinical social worker and therapist with Intermountain Health for 10 years. She noted how access has been one of the state’s biggest improvements.
Insurance can still be a barrier. But Utah has resources to help people work through it.
Stigma remained the one main concern, but Dickinson noted, “I think Utah is working on that.”
Recovery Capital Matters
Dickinson described successful recovery as depending on what she calls recovery capital. This is the stability and support a person needs to rebuild.
“Recovery capital is extremely important.” That includes housing and employment. The point is to feel “like you’re a part of your community again.”
Intermountain Health now even takes in teenagers.
When to Seek Help
Substance use disorder is a medical condition and tends to develop gradually. Common signs of addiction include needing more and more alongside withdrawal symptoms when stopping. People use drugs despite clear consequences at work, school or home, and can’t stop.
Folks often seek help due to an outside circumstance, such as a legal problem, a relationship issue, a personal health scare.
Taking the first step is still hard. She advised families to simply go them. “I will come with you. I understand there’s an issue, and let me walk in the door with you,” she suggested saying. “Take somebody with you. You’re not alone in this.”
Addiction Treatment in Utah & Beyond
Start by talking with a primary care provider, who can point to local treatment options and make referrals. Ask about insurance, waitlists and whether the program treats co-occurring mental health conditions.
Our browsable directory features verified treatment centers across the entire USA. You can browse by city and filter by level of care.
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