Expert Insights
I recently learned about a fentanyl vaccine which could save thousands of lives lost to this deadly drug. Researchers at the University of Houston have developed a potential vaccine that stops fentanyl from getting into the brain.
Having watched the wave of fentanyl overdoses hitting Grand Prairie this news couldn’t come at a better time as fentanyl deaths rose 340 percent from just 2019 to 2021. It’s clear that what we’re doing isn’t working and innovations like a fentanyl vaccine could save so many lives.
While we wait for FDA approval, it’s critical that we provide fentanyl testing kits, increase access to addiction treatment resources, and provide Narcan to anyone who uses drugs, because many street drugs are being laced with fentanyl and the person using them may not know.
~ Olivia Pennelle
Cost of Drug Rehab in Grand Prairie
Grand Prairie drug rehabs structure their treatment costs based on several factors, so no two facilities charge the same price. Your treatment costs will also depend on various factors unique to your needs and situation, some of which include:
The type of treatment you need (inpatient or outpatient)
Whether you need specialized services like medical detox, medication-assisted treatment, or psychiatric care
The length of time you spend in rehab
Whether you have health insurance and your plan’s extent of coverage
Whether you qualify for various forms of financial assistance, such as sliding-scale services or scholarships
The type of rehab facility you choose (state-funded, non-profit, privately funded, luxury, standard, etc.)
Grand Prairie Alcohol and Drug Use Statistics
Grand Prairie, Texas, spans Tarrant, Dallas, and Ellis counties. Together comprise a large portion of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro. Like many cities within the DFW metroplex, Grand Prairie has long struggled with substance abuse among its residents. Concerning drug and alcohol use, statistics in recent years include:1,2

In 2017, roughly 16,600 Dallas County residents had an alcohol use disorder, while nearly 14,000 had a cannabis use disorder. Nearly 7,000 county residents had a cocaine use disorder.

Dallas County recorded roughly 214,600 cases of substance abuse during hospital visits in 2017 alone.

Roughly 18% of Dallas, Tarrant, and Ellis County adults reported binge drinking in 2019.

Across Dallas, Tarrant, and Ellis Counties, approximately 11 out of every 100,000 residents died from a drug-related overdose between 2018 and 2020.
Drug and Alcohol Laws in Grand Prairie, Texas
Texas Naloxone Standing Order: Under Texas Senate Bill 1462, any person at risk of experiencing an opioid overdose can obtain naloxone from an authorized pharmacy without a prescription.
Anyone who may be in a position to assist someone experiencing an overdose can also obtain and administer naloxone without a prescription under this law.14
Treatment Alternative to Incarceration Program (TAIP): This program offers eligible, non-violent offenders with addiction an alternative to jail time and traditional court proceedings.
Upon completion of a substance abuse screening assessment, offenders are placed in approved alcohol and/or drug programs of various intensities, depending on their needs. If you qualify for this program and the court determines you do not have the means to pay for care, the State of Texas will cover your rehab costs.15
Jessica Sosa Act (Good Samaritan Law): Under Texas House Bill 1694, persons who, in good faith, call 911 to report a suspected overdose can be granted legal protection from arrest and prosecution for possession of drugs.
However, not everyone qualifies for immunity under this statute, including persons in possession of drugs meant for distribution.16
Resources
- Grand Prairie, Texas Population 2022 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs). (n.d.). Worldpopulationreview.com.
- Texans Fight Fentanyl | Texas Workforce Commission. (2021). Texas.gov.
- FindTreatment.gov. (n.d.). FindTreatment.gov.
- Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council Research and Education Foundation. (2019, January). Substance Abuse Community Needs Assessment of 16 North Texas Counties.
- Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council Research and Education Foundation. (n.d.). Healthy North Texas Community Dashboard.
- Frank, R. G., Beronio, K., & Glied, S. A. (2014). Behavioral Health Parity and the Affordable Care Act. Journal of Social Work in Disability & Rehabilitation, 13(1-2), 31-43.
- Texas Department of Health and Human Services. (2022). Medicaid CHIP State Plan Attachments.
- Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services.
- McCarty, D., Braude, L., Lyman, D. R., Dougherty, R. H., Daniels, A. S., Ghose, S. S., & Delphin-Rittmon, M. E. (2014). Substance abuse intensive outpatient programs: assessing the evidence. Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.), 65(6), 718-726.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT).
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Methadone.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Buprenorphine.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Naloxone.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Naltrexone.
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2017). Disulfiram. MedlinePlus.
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2016). Acamprosate. MedlinePlus.
- Texas Legislature Online. (2015). Senate Bill No. 1462.
- Texas Department of Criminal Justice Community Justice Assistance Division. (2020). Texas Progressive Interventions and Sanctions Bench Manual 2020.
- Texas Legislature Online. (2021). House Bill No. 1694