Expert Insights
I recently learned about an amazing program offered at the Betty Ford Center in Irving. It’s a three-day program created especially for the children of addicted parents. They call it the “Five Star Kids Program.” The goal is to help children aged 12 and under to understand they are not to blame for their parents’ addictions, nor can they control their parents’ addictions. When one or both parents struggle with addiction, many of the household duties (and often the parental duties) fall on these young children. They’re forced to grow up too fast and take on too much responsibility while watching a parent abdicate their duties. They can’t be the carefree kids they were meant to be, and that’s so unfair. The Five Star Kids Program aims to teach these children that it’s okay to trust again, and it’s okay to speak up when things aren’t right in their homes.
~ Rita Milios
How Expensive is Drug Rehab in Irving?
There are free or low-cost drug and alcohol rehabs in Irving and more luxury options that can be extremely pricey.
If cost is a concern, some facilities will work with you to ensure you get the treatment you need. Don’t let cost be the factor that keeps you from getting help for your substance use disorder.
How Does Irving Compare in Alcohol and Drug Use?
Conveniently located between Dallas and Fort Worth, Irving is home to over 268,000 people and is the 10th-largest city in Texas.1 But like so many other cities in the Lone Star State and in the nation, Irving struggles with drug addiction and overdose death rates.
Texas saw an 80% increase in synthetic opioid-related deaths in 2021 as compared to 2020.2 If you or someone you love is battling addiction and substance abuse, there are over 120 accredited alcohol and drug rehab centers in Irving and the surrounding area that can get you on the path to sobriety.3
Located in Dallas County, Irving has seen its share of illegal drug activity. In the fall of 2021, a man who led an Irving drug trafficking ring was sentenced to more than 19 years in federal prison.1 As part of the investigation, Irving Police made more than a dozen purchases of cocaine, methamphetamine, LSD, TCH, and other drugs.1
In Dallas County:
The top substances misused by adults entering treatment were alcohol, heroin, marijuana, meth, and opiates.2
Marijuana and alcohol were the two most common substances listed by teens seeking out treatment.2
Of all the people in the county that sought out treatment in 2017, 82% went into outpatient treatment.2
Almost 75% of people who entered rehab were between 26-60 years old.2
In Irving, the percentage of adults who reported binge drinking at least once over 30 days has been steadily on the rise since 2016.3 In 2019, 19.5% of adults reported binge drinking, an increase from 2018 and higher than the Dallas County average.3
Drug and Alcohol Laws in Irving
There are various laws in Texas and Dallas County that were created to help decrease the number of drug overdoses in the state and keep people who are dealing with substance use disorder out of the criminal justice system.
Texas Naloxone Access Law: The Texas Pharmacy Association has a physician-signed standing order for naloxone, which can be used to reverse an opioid overdose. This order authorizes any pharmacist in good standing with the state board to dispense naloxone without a prescription. In Texas, naloxone is available over the counter at CVS or Walgreens pharmacy.
Jessica Sosa Act: The Jessica Sosa Act is a type of Good Samaritan legislation that protects people from being charged with a drug-related crime if they call for medical help during a drug or alcohol overdose. They must be the first person to call 911, stay at the scene until help arrives, and cooperate with law enforcement.
Dallas County DIVERT Court: The Dallas Initiative for Diversion and Expedited Rehabilitation and Treatment (DIVERT Court) is available to county residents who have been charged with drug or alcohol offenses. It provides court-supervised treatment services and case management to address the substance use disorder and keep the person out of jail. After completing the DIVERT Court program, the original charge can be dismissed. You may also file to have the offense removed from your record. DIVERT also gives you the chance to develop job skills and rebuild family and community relationships.
If you need help determining which alcohol and drug rehab centers in Irving are right for you, don’t hesitate to call 800-681-1058 (Who Answers?) .
Resources
- Irving, Texas Population 2021 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs). (n.d.). Worldpopulationreview.com.
- Texans Fight Fentanyl | Texas Workforce Commission. (2021). Texas.gov.
- FindTreatment.gov. (n.d.). FindTreatment.gov.
- U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Texas. (2021, October 1). Instagram Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 19+ Years.
- Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council Foundation. (2019). The Substance Abuse/Misuse Community Needs Assessment Report of North Texas – 2019.
- Dallas Fort Worth Hospital Council. (2019). Adults Who Binge Drink: Irving.
- Texas Health and Human Services. (2022). Outreach, Screening, Assessment & Referral.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020, June 3.) Types of Treatment Programs.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020, May 25.) Treatment Settings.
- 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.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse .(2022, March 22). Treatment and Recovery.
- The State of Texas. (2021). B. No. 4314.