Rhode Island Tops Nation in Marijuana, Drug Use

Posted: Tuesday, January 06, 2015

druguseRhode Island has a problem: the highest rates of marijuana and illicit drug use in the country.

"It's a terrible statistic and I hope that it will spur the new administration on to really see how many resources we really need sunk into this," said Jim Gillen, of the Anchor Recovery Center.

The report stems from a national survey on drug use and health sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The report comes at a time when Rhode Island is trying to lead the nation in services for those struggling with addiction.

The Anchor Recovery Centers in Pawtucket and Warwick combined see more than 6,000 visitors a month. The Providence Center is helping to bring a program into the ACI where while incarcerated, inmates can work to become certified recovery coaches on the way out.

All of that is good, but there is a big concern now for those using drugs at a young age.

"Our biggest problem is the 18- to 25-year-old group and, unfortunately, Rhode Island and many other states throughout the country have seen an increase in use over the past year or two," said Craig Stenning of the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals.

Part of this has occurred as medical marijuana and legalization issues have taken hold.

At the YMCA in Warwick, they've partnered with the Anchor Recovery Center to help provide wellness programs for men and women in recovery in the hopes that they can help curb the statistics.

"We don't want to be ranked highest in the state for these kinds of things," said Paula Jacobson. "We want to be ranked highest in the state for having support systems, we want to minimize this."

Gillen said there are more resources now than there have ever been before.

"But obviously, it's not enough and we have to take it to the next level and not just the intervention. We need to keep people in the cycle long term," Gillen said.