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Understanding The Cost Of Rehab

The cost of addiction treatment varies between each center. Some programs are free while some cost thousands of dollars a day. No matter your budget, there is a center available. The opportunity to heal is accessible to anyone if they know what resources can help them.

Types Of Addiction Treatment And Costs

The type of care offered by a rehab affects the total cost of getting sober. Treatment types are also different for some addictions. There are many other factors that affect the cost of rehab, from medical care to amenities. The following estimates are based on costs reported by studies and individual facilities.

Outpatient detox ranges from $1,000 to $1,500 in total. Most inpatient rehabs include detox in the cost of a program. The exact cost of detox depends on whether it's part of an inpatient program and the type of drug addiction being treated. Substances with dangerous detox side effects require more careful monitoring, making the price higher.

Some inpatient rehabs may cost around $6,000 for a 30-day program. Well-known centers often cost up to $20,000 for a 30-day program. For those requiring 60- or 90-day programs, the total average of costs could range anywhere from $12,000 to $60,000.

Outpatient programs for mild to moderate addictions are cheaper than inpatient rehab. Many cost $5,000 for a three-month program. Some outpatient programs, such as the program at Hazelden Betty Ford, cost $10,000. The price tag depends on how often the individual visits the center each week and for how long.

The type of treatment medications needed affects the price tag on rehab. Some people don't need medication for their addiction. Medications most often treat alcohol and opiate addiction. It can cost several thousand dollars a year. Year-long methadone treatment for heroin users costs around $4,700.

Explore These Featured Treatment Centers

Paying For Rehab

Insurance is one of the most common ways of paying for rehab. The amount insurance covers depends on the insurer and what the health provider accepts.

Most rehabs offer financial aid, accept insurance or have financing options.

Types of insurance that may cover addiction care include:

Medicaid/Medicare

State-financed health insurance

Private insurance

Military insurance

Not everyone has insurance, but there are still ways to get the help. One way is to look for a free or low-income center. The other is to look into programs that offer financing options. Financing is often a better choice because free rehabs often have limited funding and waiting lists.

Many inpatient rehabs offer financing options for those without insurance.

Some people may be anxious to take on debt, but it's important to view addiction rehab as an investment. Over time it pays off. Getting sober gives people the tools to get their life and career on track. Recovered addicts are also able to save more because they aren't spending on drugs or alcohol.

The Cost Of Addiction

In the long run, rehab is not nearly as expensive as drug and alcohol addiction. Alcohol and drug users are more likely to skip work and switch jobs more often than sober individuals, which has a negative impact on income. The price of drugs, legal problems, health issues and loss of productivity at work all add up over time.

An alcoholic who drinks a 12-pack a day consistently for a year spends over $3,000. This cost doesn't include potential legal issues that can cost thousands more. It's harder to estimate the price of illicit drug addiction, but it can be much higher.

Some former heroin users have reported spending tens of thousands of dollars on their addiction.

The financial costs of addiction are only part of the equation. They don't include the personal costs on relationships and a meaningful life.

What Factors Into The Cost Of Addiction Treatment?

There are several factors that affect the cost of rehab. Some of the predominant factors include:

Type of Center

There is a big divide in the price of inpatient and outpatient programs. The costs of inpatient programs are higher because the costs of housing and intensive care are higher.

The cost of these programs also depends on the length of the program and location. A center in a state with a higher cost of living, like California, can be more expensive.

Treatments Offered

Some people don't need medical detox when they start rehab. Cocaine users usually don't experience dangerous withdrawals when they stop using, so there is no technical detox other than being monitored. But alcohol and heroin users often experience intense withdrawals during detox and usually need medication.

Those requiring more medical care tend to pay more for rehab. Certain therapies like professional counseling also affect how much you could pay.

Amenities

The amenities offered by a rehab don't come for free. Amenities may include massages, acupuncture, swimming pools, tennis courts, large individual rooms or award-winning chefs. Luxury rehabs typically frequented by the rich and famous are expensive because of amenities.

Luxury centers can cost tens of thousands of dollars per month. While most rehabs aren't this expensive, more amenities mean a higher price tag.

Nonprofit And State-Funded Rehabs

Some people meet requirements for low-income rehab, which are usually nonprofit organizations. Low-income rehab is free or reduced in cost. These programs are available so people can get the help they deserve regardless of income.

The Salvation Army is a well-known nonprofit organization that provides free rehab for people in need. There are also some state-funded rehabs for low-income people.

How To Get Started

After you've made the decision to get help for your problem, the next step is finding a rehab that's right for you. Don't let the price of addiction treatment hold you back. Contact a treatment provider to discuss treatment and financing options.

Last Edited:

Author

Jeffrey Juergens

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The cost of addiction treatment varies between each center. Some programs are free while some cost thousands of dollars a day. No matter your budget, there is a center available. The opportunity to heal is accessible to anyone if they know what resources can help them.

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This article talks about how drugs affect the families of the person who does them. People can hide behind the scenes when addiction comes to play. They can play the perfect family and try to make things seem good from the outside. Addiction can cause trauma to their spouses and children. Because the children are living traumatically, they can become addicts as well as they grow up.

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Addiction affects the family. Shared finances and physical and mental health can take a hit when one member is suffering.

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This article talks about how doing drugs for fun or while in outings can turn into an addiction. Many people can go out for drinks with friends and family and not form an addiction, but many others start to develop habits and turn that fun use into addiction. Drug uses such as Marijuana and alcohol use can be considering the first use and it can lead people to try stronger drugs.

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Recreational Drug Use vs Addiction | What is Drug Dependency

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What is drug dependency? The line between recreational drug use vs addiction is increasingly more difficult to detect. Signs include...

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This article talks about the opioid epidemic that has been rising over the past few years. In the 1990’s medication companies told health professionals that their medications were non-addictive and were okay to give for pain after big procedures. This also talks about statistics shows the rise in cases of overdoses.

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The U.S. government does not track death rates for every drug. However, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collects information on deaths involving many of the more commonly used drugs available through 2020 at a searchable database, called CDC Wonder. The NCHS also has 12 month-ending provisional data available by state and drug category. See Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts.

The CDC also provides timely data related to unintentional and undetermined intent drug overdose deaths by participating jurisdiction through the State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS). Similar data related to nonfatal drug overdoses are reported through CDC's Drug Overdose Surveillance and Epidemiology (DOSE) system.

Figure 1. National Drug-Involved Overdose Deaths-Number Among All Ages, by Gender, 1999-2020. Nearly 92,000 persons in the U.S. died from drug-involved overdose in 2020, including illicit drugs and prescription opioids. The figure above is a bar and line graph showing the total number of U.S. drug overdose deaths involving any illicit or prescription opioid drug from 1999 to 2020. The bars are overlaid by lines showing the number of deaths by gender from 1999 to 2020 (Source: CDC WONDER).

Figure 2. National Drug-Involved Overdose Deaths by Specific Category-Number Among All Ages, 1999-2020. Overall, drug overdose deaths rose from 2019 to 2020 with 91,799 drug overdose deaths reported in 2020. Deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl) continued to rise with 56,516 overdose deaths reported in 2020. Those involving psychostimulants with abuse potential (primarily methamphetamine) also continued to increase to 23,837 (Source: CDC WONDER).

Figure 3. National Overdose Deaths Involving Any Opioid-Number Among All Ages, by Gender, 1999-2020. The figure above is a bar and line graph showing the total number of U.S. overdose deaths involving any opioid from 1999 to 2020. Any opioid includes prescription opioids (natural and semi-synthetic opioids and methadone), heroin and synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl). Opioid-involved overdose deaths rose from 21,088 in 2010 to 47,600 in 2017 and remained steady in 2018 with 46,802 deaths. This was followed by a significant increase through 2020 to 68,630 overdose deaths. The bars are overlaid by lines showing the number of deaths by gender from 1999 to 2020 (Source: CDC WONDER).

Figure 4. National Overdose Deaths Involving Prescription Opioids, by other Opioid Involvement-Number Among All Ages, 1999-2020. The figure above is a bar and line graph showing the total number of U.S. overdose deaths involving prescriptions opioids (including natural and semi-synthetic opioids and methadone) from 1999 to 2020. Drug overdose deaths involving prescription opioids rose from 3,442 in 1999 to 17,029 in 2017. From 2017 to 2019, the number of deaths declined to 14,139, followed by an increase to 16,416 in 2020. The bars are overlaid by lines showing the number of deaths involving prescription opioids in combination with synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl) or without any other opioid from 1999 to 2020 (Source: CDC WONDER).

Figure 5. National Overdose Deaths Involving Heroin, by Other Opioid Involvement-Number Among All Ages, 1999-2020. The figure above is a bar and line graph showing the total number of U.S. overdose deaths involving heroin from 1999 to 2020. Drug overdose deaths involving heroin rose from 1,960 in 1999 to 15,469 in 2016. Since 2016, the number of deaths has trended down with 13,165 deaths reported in 2020. The bars are overlaid by lines showing the number of deaths involving heroin in combination with synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl) or without any other opioid from 1999 to 2020 (Source: CDC WONDER).

Figure 6. National Overdose Deaths Involving Psychostimulants With Abuse Potential (Including Methamphetamine), by Opioid Involvement-Number Among All Ages, 1999-2020. The figure above is a bar and line graph showing the total number of U.S. overdose deaths involving psychostimulants with abuse potential from 1999 to 2020. Drug overdose deaths rose from 547 in 1999 to 23,837 in 2020. The bars are overlaid by lines showing the number of deaths involving psychostimulants in combination with synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl) or without any opioid. The number of deaths involving psychostimulants has increased steadily since 2014 regardless of opioid involvement (Source: CDC WONDER).

Figure 7. National Drug Overdose Deaths Involving Cocaine, by Opioid Involvement-Number Among All Ages, 1999-2020. The figure above is a bar and line graph showing the total number of U.S. overdose deaths involving cocaine from 1999 to 2020. Drug overdose deaths involving cocaine rose steadily from 5,419 in 2014 to 19,447 in 2020. The bars are overlaid by lines showing the number of deaths involving cocaine in combination with synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl) or without any opioid. The number of deaths in combination with synthetic opioids other than methadone has been increasing steadily since 2014 and is the main driver of cocaine-involved overdose deaths (Source: CDC WONDER).

Figure 8. National Drug Overdose Deaths Involving Benzodiazepines, by Opioid Involvement-Number Among All Ages, 1999-2020. The figure above is a bar and line graph showing the total number of U.S. overdose deaths involving benzodiazepines from 1999 to 2020. Drug overdose deaths involving benzodiazepines has steadily increased from 1,135 in 1999 to 11,537 in 2017. Between 2017 and 2020, deaths declined and rose again to 12,290. The bars are overlaid by lines showing the number of deaths involving benzodiazepines in combination with synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl) or without any opioid (Source: CDC WONDER).

Figure 9. National Drug Overdose Deaths Involving Antidepressants, by Opioid Involvement-Number Among All Ages, 1999-2020. The figure above is a bar and line graph showing the total number of U.S. overdose deaths involving antidepressants from 1999 to 2020. Drug overdose deaths involving antidepressants has risen steadily from 1,749 in 1999 to 5,269 in 2017. Since then, deaths have remained steady with 5,597 in 2020. The bars are overlaid by lines showing the number of deaths involving antidepressants in combination with synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl) or without any opioid involvement (Source: CDC WONDER).

Link

Description of Figures

The figures above are bar charts showing the number of U.S. overdose deaths involving select prescription and illicit drugs from 1999 through 2020. The bars are overlaid by lines representing gender or concurrent opioid involvement. There were 91,799 drug-involved overdose deaths reported in the U.S. in 2020 (Figure 1); 69% of cases occurred among males (yellow line). Synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl) were the main driver of drug overdose deaths with a 6-fold increase from 2015 to 2020 (Figure 2).

Drug overdose deaths involving any opioid―prescription opioids (including natural and semi-synthetic opioids and methadone), other synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl), and heroin―continued to rise through 2020 with 68,630 deaths. More than 70% of deaths occurred among males (Figure 3). From 2019 to 2020, the number of deaths involving prescription opioids rose, after remaining steady for two years, to 16,416 (Figure 4).

Overdose deaths involving heroin has trended down since 2016 with 13,165 deaths reported in 2020 (Figure 5). More than 68% of overdose deaths involving heroin also involved synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl).

Since 2014, the number of deaths involving psychostimulants (primarily methamphetamine, Figure 6) have risen significantly each year, with 23,837 deaths in 2020. Cocaine too, has increased steadily since 2014 with 19,447 deaths reported in 2020 (Figure 7).

The final two charts show the number of overdose deaths involving benzodiazepines (Figure 8) or antidepressants (Figure 9). Benzodiazepines were involved in 12,290 deaths in 2020-a steady decline from the 11,537 deaths in 2017. Deaths involving antidepressants have remained steady since 2014, with 5,597 fatalities reported in 2020. Deaths involving benzodiazepines or antidepressants are mainly driven by those also involving opioids.

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Overdose Death Rates | National Institute on Drug Abuse

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The U.S. government does not track death rates for every drug. However, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collects information on deaths involving many of the more commonly used drugs available through 2020 at a searchable database, called CDC Wonder.

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This article talks about the effects of addiction on someone’s body and brain. People who do drugs are most likely to have major health issues. People that do drugs long term tend to have organ failure, even if they get clean, the drugs take a total on their bodies. Not only does drugs affect the body, but it also affects their brain. Many people can get clean before it takes a major total on their body, but their minds might always be there.

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Addiction is a complex disease that can have significant effects on the brain and body. It can change the way the brain works, which is what controls the way a person thinks, feels, talks, and moves. On top of that, the brain controls the function of all the other organs in the body. These organs, such as the liver and kidneys, need to stay healthy in order to operate on a daily basis and are essential to survival. The effects of addiction on the brain and body can be damaging in the long-term, so it's important to get help if you or someone you know is suffering from drug or alcohol addiction.

Addiction and The Brain

The brain is a very important organ in the human body. The brain adapts to environmental changes and allows us to cope with negative emotions, form memories, and learn. But drug and alcohol addiction can drastically impact how the brain functions. The addicted brain changes both chemically and physiologically.

Addiction can impact the brain on many levels. When a person uses drugs, chemical compounds in stimulants, nicotine, opioids, alcohol, and sedatives enter the brain and bloodstream. Once one of these chemicals enters the brain, it can cause people to lose control of their impulses and/or crave the harmful substance- making them addicted.

Chemical Changes- The Biochemistry of Addiction

Beginning with the chemical changes addiction has on the brain , drugs, and alcohol affect the brain's neurotransmitters, which release an excess level of dopamine causing temporary pleasurable feelings and euphoria. According to an article published by Harvard Medical School, How Addiction Hijacks the Brain , "Dopamine not only contributes to the experience of pleasure but also plays a role in learning and memory - two key elements in the transition from liking something to becoming addicted to it."

Over time, the brain adapts in a way that actually makes the sought-after substance or activity less pleasurable. Eventually, it becomes increasingly difficult to get the release of more dopamine to feel the same pleasure. This makes a person want more drugs and alcohol with higher potency or more risky and addictive activities. These chemical changes in the brain are one reason why substance abuse problems are so hard to stop, especially without treatment.

Physiological Changes- How Does An Addict's Brain Work?

On top of the e ffects of addiction on the brain's neurotransmitters and associated chemicals, the brain also changes physiologically. "The brain actually changes with addiction, and it takes a good deal of work to get it back to its normal state. The more drugs or alcohol you've taken, the more disruptive it is to the brain," said Dr. George Koob , director of NIH's National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Drugs and alcohol affect the brain's ability to form and store important memories. These substances also can cause irreversible brain damage.

There is a misconception that an addict can just turn away from their addiction- but this is further from the truth. When an individual gets addicted to a substance, the natural rewiring of the brain gets distorted through the influx of chemicals that are generated by the substance. Drugs or alcohol can start to control the pleasure/reward circuits in the brain, leaving the individual wanting more and more. As a result, when an addict tries to quit, the brain also sends emotional danger-sensing circuits. This leaves the addict wanting more of the substance to make them feel more secure and happy.

Retraining the Brain After Addiction

Even if people understand the changes and cycle of addiction and how it changes the brain, they cannot stop on their own. The brain is dependent on drugs or alcohol, so a person needs to commit to recovery to change his or her lifestyle. When in treatment, a person's brain needs to be re-trained to function normally, without toxic substances. It will take time for the brain to re-adjust to a sober, healthy lifestyle.

At Corner Canyon Health Centers, we focus on the Gut-Brain connection to restore adequate levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain. It's our top priority to heal the brain after someone has suffered from addiction.

Effects of Addiction on the Body

Beyond just the effect addiction has on the brain, when a person is addicted to drugs and alcohol the entire body is affected too. Drugs and alcohol affect major organ function and with prolonged drug or alcohol addiction, permanent effects on vital systems and functions can lead to disability or even early death. The effects of addiction on the body can also carry over to physical changes.

Internal Effects of Addiction on the Body

Because of the effects addiction has on the body 's major organs , it can lead to heart disease, liver failure, some types of cancer, kidney failure, overdose, and even death. Drugs and alcohol can cause chronic heart problems and diseases that could result in heart attacks, high blood pressure, and an irregular heartbeat. These heart complications can be fatal. Addiction can also contribute to cirrhosis of the liver, cancer, and organ damage or failure. Drug and alcohol use also weakens the immune system, which can make a person prone to many diseases and viruses.

External Effects of Addiction on the Body

Addiction not only causes internal changes, but also physical changes in appearance. It can alter a person's skin, hair, nails, weight, and teeth. Acne and skin lesions can be a common effect of addiction, as well as baldness or male pattern hair growth in women. Addiction can also cause jaw and teeth issues such as cavities and gum disease.

Fighting Addiction with Corner Canyon Health Centers

Knowing the effects of addiction can motivate a person to quit drugs or alcohol , however, the physical changes in the brain make it very difficult for a person to stop using even if they want to . Although there is no cure for addiction, there is treatment and hope in recovery . If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction or a substance use disorder, do not be afraid to ask for help. Save a life and get help today.

At Corner Canyon, our doors are open to adult clients seeking healing and transformation to put their lives on the path of recovery. We understand the effects of addiction on the brain and body. Our residential treatment center offers a warm and welcoming home environment paired with exceptional individualized clinical care utilizing the latest in scientific advancement for treating both mental health and addiction treatment. For information on our program contact us today . We can help you get the treatment you deserve and stop the effects of addiction in your life.

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Effects of Addiction on the Brain and Body | Corner Canyon Health Centers

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Addiction is a complex disease that can have significant effects on the brain and body. It can change the way the brain works, which is what controls the way a person thinks, feels, talks, and moves. On top of that, the brain controls the function of all the other organs in the body.

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This article talks about addicts who have had failed treatment in the past and many addiction centers seem to not always have the best training in mental health. There’s a rumor stating that drug addictions are not a mental health problem, and therefore in the article it states that some patients who go to drug rehabs, are not treated properly. Patients who are treated correct can get the help they need by addressing their mental health.

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Compton and Chang talk about the effects of SUD in cancer patients. The article mentions surveys that have been conducted by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health about how many Americans report their addictions (drugs or alcohol). The authors also mention the importance of patients being able to seek treatment and managed their addictions especially while being treated with cancer.

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Rabin talks about the skyrocketing numbers of overdose deaths that had occurred in a year.  People were not able to get the treatment they needed due to lockdowns and doctors being focused on patients with covid symptoms. Many people were already having a tough time dealing with the madness of the pandemic that they did start using more drugs and alcohol. Because many people were alone at home, they did tend to pass away without others knowing.

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More than 100,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in the yearlong period ending in April, government researchers said.

A memorial service in Baltimore last year for a man who died of an overdose. Overdose deaths have more than doubled since 2015. Credit... Andrew Mangum for The New York Times

Americans died of drug overdoses in record numbers as the pandemic spread across the country, federal researchers reported on Wednesday, the result of lost access to treatment, rising mental health problems and wider availability of dangerously potent street drugs.

In the 12-month period that ended in April, more than 100,000 Americans died of overdoses, up almost 30 percent from the 78,000 deaths in the prior year, according to provisional figures from the National Center for Health Statistics. The figure marks the first time the number of overdose deaths in the United States has exceeded 100,000 a year, more than the toll of car crashes and gun fatalities combined. Overdose deaths have more than doubled since 2015.

Administration officials said on Wednesday that they will expand access to medications like naloxone, which can reverse an opioid overdose, by encouraging states to pass laws that will make it more widely available and promoting its use by Americans.

"I believe that no one should die of an overdose simply because they didn't have access to naloxone," said Dr. Rahul Gupta, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. "Sadly, today that is happening across the country, and access to naloxone often depends a great deal on where you live."

Though recent figures through September suggest the overdose death rate may have slowed, the grim tally signals a public health crisis whose magnitude was both obscured by the Covid pandemic and accelerated by it, experts said.

"These are numbers we have never seen before," said Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The fatalities have lasting repercussions, since most of them occurred among people aged 25 to 55, in the prime of life, she added.

"They leave behind friends, family and children, if they have children, so there are a lot of downstream consequences," Dr. Volkow said. "This is a major challenge to our society."

The rise in deaths - the vast majority caused by synthetic opioids - was fueled by widespread use of fentanyl, a fast-acting drug that is 100 times as powerful as morphine. Increasingly fentanyl is added surreptitiously to other illegally manufactured drugs to enhance their potency.

Overdose deaths related to use of stimulants like methamphetamine, cocaine, and natural and semi-synthetic opioids, such as prescription pain medication, also increased during the 12-month period.

Paramedics in Brooklyn, Md., responded to a patient in cardiac arrest after an overdose in May 2020. Credit... Alex Edelman/Agence France-Presse - Getty Images

While some drug users seek out fentanyl, Dr. Volkow said, others "may not have wanted to take it. But that is what is being sold, and the risk of overdose is very high."

"Many people are dying without knowing what they are ingesting," she added.

People struggling with addiction and those in recovery are prone to relapse, Dr. Volkow noted. The initial pandemic lockdowns and subsequent fraying of social networks, along with the rise in mental health disorders like anxiety and depression, helped create the crisis.

So, too, did the postponement of treatment for substance abuse disorders, as health care providers nationwide struggled to tend to huge numbers of coronavirus patients and postponed other services.

Dr. Joseph Lee, president and chief executive of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, said that community and social support that was lost during the pandemic, along with the closing of schools, contributed to the death toll. "We're seeing a lot of people who delayed getting help, and who seem to be more sick," Dr. Lee said.

The vast majority of these deaths, about 70 percent, were among men between the ages of 25 and 54. And while the opioid crisis has been characterized as one primarily impacting white Americans, a growing number of Black Americans have been affected as well.

There were regional variations in the death counts, with the largest year-over-year increases - exceeding 50 percent - in California, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, West Virginia and Kentucky. Vermont's toll was small, but increased by 85 percent during the reporting period.

Increases of about 40 percent or greater were seen in Washington State, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, Minnesota, Alaska, Nebraska, Virginia and the Carolinas. Deaths actually dropped in New Hampshire, New Jersey and South Dakota.

"If we had talked a year ago, I would have told you deaths are skyrocketing. But I would not have guessed it would get to this," said Dr. Andrew Kolodny, medical director of the Opioid Policy Research Collaborative at Brandeis University's Heller School for Social Policy and Management.

A police officer and a member of Turning Point recovery center in Brattleboro, Vt., checked in on people struggling with addiction last year. Credit... Hilary Swift for The New York Times

Most of those who died probably already suffered from addiction, or were in recovery and relapsed, an ever-present risk exacerbated during times of stress and isolation, Dr. Kolodny said.

Many of those with an addiction to synthetic opioids very likely became addicted after being given prescription opioids by medical providers. "Teenagers are routinely being given opioids to this day when their wisdom teeth come out," he said.

The vast stimulus bill passed last spring included $1.5 billion for the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders, and $30 million to fund local services for people struggling with addiction, including syringe exchange programs.

Federal funds can also be used now to buy rapid test strips to detect whether illicit drugs have been laced with fentanyl.

But critics say the federal response has been inadequate, given the magnitude of the public health emergency. They have called for new funding to provide universal access to treatment, and for treatment centers in every county that offer same-day access.

For example, physicians still need federal permission to prescribe buprenorphine, a first-line treatment for opioid use disorder, which limits the number of providers.

"If you really want to see deaths comes down, you have to make it much easier for someone who is addicted to opioids to access treatment, particularly with buprenorphine," Dr. Kolodny said.

"It has to be easier to get treatment than to buy a bag of dope."

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Overdose Deaths Reached Record High as the Pandemic Spread

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More than 100,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in the yearlong period ending in April, government researchers said. Americans died of drug overdoses in record numbers as the pandemic spread across the country, federal researchers reported on Wednesday, the result of lost access to treatment, rising mental health problems and wider availability of dangerously potent street drugs.