Drug And Alcohol Addiction In St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, along with most of Missouri, was previously thought of as the “Meth Capital of the World.” But as new laws are passed and different drugs become available, the desire for illicit Methamphetamine falls.
Despite Meth’s comeback in recent years, with a cheaper, purer product, Opioids and a new strain of K2 pose a more prevalent danger to the city. Those struggling with addiction and/or dependency with any of the above drugs, or any other substance, can seek help at a local rehab.
The Toll Of The Opioid Epidemic In St. Louis
The consistent rate of drug-related deaths in St. Louis has ranked among the worst in the country. With the wave of the Opioid crisis, St. Louis is among the cities hurt most by the addictiveness of prescription drugs. The number of overdose deaths has radically increased in recent years.
More and more users in St. Louis are overdosing on Fentanyl without their knowledge. Men and women in St. Louis who buy Heroin often find that their purchase has been cut with Fentanyl. Without proper knowledge of the substance, people cannot dose properly and overdose.
St. Louis Addiction Statistics
79
percent
Stats published in 2018 show St. Louis County overdose fatalities rose 79% over 6 years.
84
percent
Out of a sample size of 243 overdose deaths, 84% were tied to the presence of Fentanyl.
462
calls
In the first three months of 2018, there were 462 calls to 55 different poison centers in regard to K2.
The K2 Outbreak
Many people think that drugs like K2, a synthetic form of Cannabis, are harmless. However, the synthetic chemicals used to spray down the plant matter can range in properties that vary based off provider. Side effects can include seizures, hallucinations, and nausea. A special strain that has been spotted in St. Louis contains a prominent anti-coagulant ingredient found in rat poison that causes users to bleed out.
Many are tempted by K2 for its high levels of THC and that it won’t show up on a drug test. However, the allure is also a large part of the danger. K2 producers get around the law through regular recipe change-ups. Once one ingredient is banned, they find another. People who smoke K2 expose themselves to a myriad of substances that they have no knowledge of, many of which are highly toxic.
In one iteration, 3 died from K2 use and 123 were hospitalized. People rushed to the emergency room after smoking K2 are often kept for several days before being released. What’s worse, there is no pharmaceutical drug to treat a K2 overdose. Overdose from Opioids can be stopped by Naloxone, an Opioid antagonist. Without exact knowledge of what goes into that specific blend of K2, there is no way to easily treat it. This leads to permanent brain damage and even death in many who use K2.

Break free from addiction.
You have options. Talk about them with a treatment provider today.
Local Treatment Options
The drug crisis in St. Louis is permanently destroying the lives of many individuals. People who smoke K2 are damaging their bodies in ways they can’t recover from, even with rehabilitation. The only way to get better is to stop before it’s too late.
Coming to terms with addiction is the first step to recovery. If you or a loved one is battling addiction, there is help available. Contact a treatment provider to discuss treatment options.
Published:
Author
Jeffrey Juergens

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Jeffrey Juergens earned his Bachelor’s and Juris Doctor from the University of Florida. Jeffrey’s desire to help others led him to focus on economic and social development and policy making. After graduation, he decided to pursue his passion of writing and editing. Jeffrey’s mission is to educate and inform the public on addiction issues and help those in need of treatment find the best option for them.
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