Drug And Alcohol Addiction In Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln is the capital of Nebraska, with over 353,000 in the metropolitan Lincoln-Beatrice area. The rural region has faced issues with Meth labs in the past, though Nebraska maintains some of the nation’s lowest drug-induced death rates. In 2013, it had the lowest percentage of drug overdoses in the country. Recently, however, it has seen a sharp increase in deaths; this has been largely due to Fentanyl. No matter the substance of abuse (or the mental health condition that could be present alongside the dependency) there are local treatment centers that can help. Today, the most commonly abused substances in Lincoln are:
Substance Abuse Among College Students In Lincoln
Counting the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the city sustains a student population just under 30,000. However, student Marijuana arrests are 4 times that of non-students in Lincoln. Half of the UNL population has reportedly tried Marijuana, and 1 in 10 students reports using it weekly. While Marijuana addictions are uncommon, many students abuse other, more addictive illicit substances in concordance with Marijuana. College student addictions from the abuse of Stimulants like Adderall (a medication prescribed to those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD) has increased sharply. Students face rates of prescription medication addiction equal to those of people outside of school.
In reports released by the CDC, Lincoln ranked as the 10th drunkest city in the US; a third of its population met the criteria for an alcohol use disorder. Among students, over 40% reported regular binge drinking. Binge drinking is characterized by 5 or more drinks in one sitting.
After the death of one of its fraternity members, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln took major steps toward curbing its rates of underage drinking and alcohol abuse among students. The effort was largely successful, and led to rates of “blackout” drinking falling along with fewer party complaints.
Addiction Treatment In Lincoln
Part of the university’s factors in reducing rates of excessive drinking is its punitive alternatives. Instead of being sent to jail or a hospital, highly intoxicated students have the option of being sent to a detox center (without a citation or fine) under administrative custody. Once there, patients start to receive detox care and substance abuse therapy. University addiction treatment services are also available for students.
For Lincoln residents, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services provides funds to various centers in the area so that residents may receive substance use treatment and detox services including:
- Drug and alcohol abuse/DUI classes
- Outpatient treatment
- Intensive outpatient treatment
- Interventions
- Clinical therapy
There are also Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings for individuals to attend to maintain sobriety.

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If you or a loved one is battling addiction, there is hope. There is a veritable smorgasbord of modalities that can aid in recovery, the effectiveness of which may vary from person to person. For more information on treatment options, contact a treatment provider today.
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Destiny Bezrutczyk

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Destiny Bezrutczyk is a Digital Content Writer from west Iowa. She earned a Bachelor’s in English Language and Literature from Texas Tech University. After working as a freelance script and blog writer, she began writing content for tech startups. Maintaining a passion for words, she took on a variety of projects where her writing could help people (especially those battling mental health and substance use disorders).
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