Waltham Drug Abuse Statistics

Waltham, a city located in the Middlesex County of Massachusetts, is better known as the Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. Waltham MA has a total population of about 60,236 and is also popularly known as the Watch City because it is the home of the first assembly line of The Waltham Watch Company which started its operations in here in 1854.

The company was credited with producing more than 40 million watches, instruments, and clocks before it shut its doors in 1957. Waltham was initially a part of Watertown and was incorporated as a new city in 1738.

Waltham MA is in the grip of the growing problem of alcoholism and illegal substance abuse which is gripping almost all the societies of The United States. Underage drinking is a cause of major concern for the local authorities. Heroin, marijuana and cocaine are the most abused substances in the city. A regular drug sweep activity which is carried on by the Waltham MA Police Department busts many small size drug rings operating in the city and finds many individuals dealing with issues like cocaine or crack drug addiction.

Cocaine drug addiction could be lethal, and this was first understood in 1986 when basketball star Len Bias, who seemed all set to dethrone then basketball legend Michael Jordan, was found in a dorm in a comatose state due to a massive cocaine overdose. The star and young player lost his life 5 hours later and made United States authorities realize the dangers of this illegal substance.

Though President Ronald Regan introduced the Anti Drug Abuse Act in 1986 which promised stricter punishments for drug dealers and drug traffickers, the illegal drug industry continue to thrive and is believed to do more business than Starbucks and other coffee shops put together.

Pure cocaine can be quite expensive and drug addicts may have to shell out as much as $150/gram. Therefore, many individuals shift towards crack cocaine to satisfy their substance abuse needs, as it is available anywhere from $10 to $40. This drug is often smoked by crack addicts using a pipe. Whenever users smoke cocaine or crack, they get a sudden high, but the feeling doesnt remain for long and hence, the user is tempted to consume more of this substance.

This results in a vicious circle where the cocaine user can go to any extent to procure this drug. Cocaine addiction often leads the addicts to commit many crimes ranging from petty thefts to even murders.

Long term usage of cocaine and crack could be detrimental for the users health. Cocaine drug addiction can make users feel anxious and depressed, and they can even experience violent mood swings. Alcoholism and illegal substance abuse also make the users paranoid. An overdose of cocaine and crack could be fatal, as could be understood from the above example. Therefore, if you find your near and dear one suffering from the problem of alcoholism or cocaine drug addiction, consult the medical experts at a nearby substance abuse treatment center.

The right course of treatment can aid complete recovery and help an addict lead a normal, happy life.