Substance Abuse Statistics in Pittsfield

Pittsfield MA, with a population of 42,652, is the county seat of Berkshire County in Massachusetts. According to Farmers Insurance, Pittsfield was ranked as the 20^th Most Secure Place to live in 2005. Forbes also named this city as one of 100 Best Small Places for Business in US in 2006.

Pittsfield MA is also one of the greenest cities in the USA, and was initially occupied by the Mohican Indian tribe till the early 1700s. In 1738, almost 24,000 acres of this region was bought by a wealthy businessman from Boston by the name of Colonel Jacob Wendell. Pittsfield was initially referred to as Pontoosuck and was finally incorporated as a town in 1761.

To combat the rising substance abuse statistics in Pittsfield MA, every effort is being made by the local authorities to educate civilians about the perils of drug addiction, as it is very difficult for the people to understand why a person becomes so dependent on drugs, and what impact drug abuse could have on a persons mental and physical health.

A large group of Pittsfield MA inhabitants believe that substance abuse is a social issue and that drug addiction is a problem experienced by people who are morally weak. They also feel that strong will power is needed to get over the problem of drug addiction.

However, it takes more than just will power to get rid of the problem of substance abuse because of the damages these dangerous drugs could cause to a persons brain. Drug addiction and substance abuse leads to increase in the crime rates in the city, because individuals could go to any extent to satisfy their drug cravings. Not only does drug abuse lead to an unsafe society, but it also puts a lot of financial burden on the federal and state governments.

A recent report from National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) reveal that more than half a trillion dollars are lost annually by the government due to loss of productivity and crimes caused by the growing problem of drug addiction. Substance abuse is also responsible for family disintegration, increasing school dropout and unemployment rates, child abuse, domestic violence, and other crimes.

NIDA suggests that drug addiction is a chronic brain problem which can often lead to a relapse. But the good news is like other chronic diseases such as asthma or heart disease, one can manage drug abuse successfully. However, to ensure complete recovery, one has to use a combination of medication and behavioral therapy.

Help is available for the citizens of Pittsfield MA who are suffering from the problem of substance abuse in the form of treatment facilities available in the city. Most of these drug abuse treatment facilities keep in mind the drug addiction pattern of the patient, his/her social background, as well as medical and psychiatric history before deciding on the course of treatment.

A well tailored approach could help the drug addicts to give up their bad habits and enjoy a sustained recovery. Love and affection of family members as well as the right medical guidance will also help drug addicts lead a normal, happy life free from drugs.