One in five young adults in New Jersey admits to having a problem with drugs, alcohol, or both, says a new statewide survey on substance abuse reported by the Newark Star-Ledger. Five percent reported using heroin, more than twice the national average. Access to substance abuse treatment programs in the state remained elusive for people of all ages, said the 2003 New Jersey Household Survey on Drug Use and Health, issued yesterday. Among people 18 to 25 years old who acknowledged having an abuse or dependency problem, undere 8 percent were enrolled in rehabilitation programs, compared with about 11 percent nationally.
Just under 10 percent of those age 26 and older said they had a drinking or drug problem. They had just as much trouble getting treatment: 9 percent were in programs, compared with 27 percent nationally. Human Services Commissioner James Davy said the state would expand treatment to enroll 2,000 more people by next year. “It appears heroin is the drug of choice in New Jersey,” he said.
Link: http://www.nj.com/statehouse/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-0/112719206935510.xml&coll=1