Alaska
It should be noted that these pages are not intended as an academic reference. The data collected is from State and Federal sources.
Alaska Addiction Treatment Statistics
In 2010, there were 6,699 people who went to drug and alcohol rehab in Alaska. Of this population, 61% were male and 39% were female. Across all survey years, Alaska has been among the 10 states with the highest rates of past year illicit drug dependence for the state population age 12 to 17. For the remaining age groups, rates of this measure have remained above the national rate.
During 2007-2008, Alaska also was one of the top ten states for rates in several other drug-use categories, including: past-month illicit drug use among persons age 12 or older; past-month illicit drug use among young adults age 18-25; and past-year cocaine use among persons age 12 and older. Approximately 12% of Alaskan residents reported past-month use of illicit drugs; the national average was 8%.
According to the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS), in 2006 there were 70 treatment facilities in Alaska in 2007. The number of treatment facilities has decreased from 87 in 2002. Rates of unmet needs for treatment for drug use have remained among the highest in the country for the Alaska population age 12 and older as well as for the population age 26 and older.
Alcohol Addiction in Alaska
In 2010, there were a reported 2,961 people who were admitted to substance abuse treatment for alcohol as the primary substance of abuse and an additional 2,027 who went into treatment for alcohol combined with a secondary drug.
Rates of alcohol abuse and/or dependence in Alaska have been more variable than those for illicit drugs. For example, in 2005–2006 those individuals 12 and older, 12 to 17, and 26 and older showed rates of past year alcohol dependence among the highest in the country. The rate for the 18 to 25 age group was among the 10 lowest in the country.
Commonly Abused Drugs in Alaska
Marijuana
According to the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), there were 524 people who entered drug rehab for marijuana dependence in 2010. The largest age group admitted into treatment was 12-17 year olds at 43.3%. In 2007-2008, Alaska was ranked first among all states for the rate of past-year marijuana use among young adults age 26 and older.
Prescription DrugsThere were 340 people who went to treatment for opiates other than heroin in 2010. 63.5% of these people were female while 36.5% were male. 28.8% of those entering treatment for opiate addiction were between the ages of 21-25 years of age.
Amphetamines
182 individuals went to substance abuse treatment for using amphetamines in 2010. 42.3% were male and 57.7% were female. 25.8% of all those entering treatment for methamphetamines were ages 26-30.
84 people were admitted to drug rehab for smoking cocaine and another 83 people entered treatment for ingesting cocaine by other means than smoking it. In both cases, the majority of people in treatment for using cocaine were female at 73.8 %.
Drug and Alcohol Fatalities, Injuries, and Drug Court Statistics in Alaska
As a direct consequence of drug use, 75 persons died in Alaska in 2007. This is compared to the number of persons in Alaska who died from motor vehicle accidents (107) and firearms (120) in the same year. Alaska drug-induced deaths (11 per 100,000 population) were lower than the national rate (12.7 per 100,000).
Alaska Drug and Alcohol Addiction Resources
- Alcoholics Anonymous (go to the AA main page, click on find a meeting, follow link to state pages, click on Alaska)
- Narcotics Anonymous
- Alanon and Alateen Family Group
