If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol or drug abuse, our Nebraska drug addiction helpline can help you find medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs in your community. MAT is a comprehensive approach that combines the use of medications such as methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone along with counseling and psychotherapy. This approach makes the recovery process easier for people struggling with substance use disorders, particularly opioid addiction.

These medications work in different ways, including reducing withdrawal symptoms, cravings, and the euphoric effects of drugs by stabilizing brain chemistry. Drug rehab programs where MAT is coupled with other therapeutic interventions comprehensively address the physiological and psychological aspects of addiction.

Medication assisted treatment can make the path to recovery more manageable and allow you to engage more effectively in counseling and therapy. This integrated approach can enhance your chances of achieving sustained sobriety and help to rebuild your life.

The National Drug Helpline number 1-844-289-0879 can help you find medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in Nebraska. Our lines are open around the clock. We can give you immediate access to updated information about addiction treatment programs near you. All calls to the helpline are answered by trained professionals who can connect you to local resources and offer support and guidance in a safe, non-judgmental, private space.

Call 1-844-289-0789 today to find drug and alcohol treatment facilities in Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue, Kearney, Grand Island, and other communities in Nebraska.

NEBRASKA SUBSTANCE ABUSE RESOURCES

SUBSTANCE ABUSE BY YOUTH IN NEBRASKA

The Nebraska Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2021 showed the following findings among 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th graders in the state: [1]

ALCOHOL USE

  • Percentage of students who had their first alcoholic drink before age 13 years: 12.4%
  • Percentage of students who currently drank alcohol: 18.9%
  • Percentage of students who were currently engaged in binge drinking on at least 1 day in the past 30 days: 9.1%
  • Percentage of students who go the alcohol they drank by someone giving it to them: 39.1%
  • Percentage of students who reported they had 10 or more drinks in a row within a couple of hours in the past 30 days: 3.6%

MARIJUANA USE

  • Percentage of students who ever used marijuana: 18.7%
  • Percentage of students who tried marijuana for the first time before age 13 years: 3.3%
  • Percentage of students who used currently used marijuana in the past 30 days: 11.0%
  • Percentage of students who ever used synthetic marijuana (spice, K2, black mamba, fake weed): 4.3%

PRESCRIPTION PAIN MEDICATION MISUSE

  • Percentage of students who ever took prescription pain medications such as codeine, Vicodin, OxyContin, or Percocet without a doctor’s prescription or differently than prescribed: 7.1%

EXPOSURE TO DRUGS AND ALCOHOL

  • Percentage of students who ever used inhalants (glue, aerosol cans, paints, sprays): 7.3%
  • Percentage of students who ever injected an illegal drug: 0.9%
  • Percentage of students who were ever offered, given, or sold an illegal drug on school property: 10.4%

SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN NEBRASKA

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports the following with regards to substance use in Nebraska: [2]

YOUTH AGED 12-17 YEARS

  • Past-month marijuana use was reported by 6.5% of adolescents in 2017-2019 compared to 8.2% in 2002-2004. During a similar timeframe, the US national average decreased from 7.9% in 2002-2004 to 6.8% in 2017-2019.
  • Past-month alcohol use was reported by 9.4% of youth in 2017-2019 compared to 20.7% in 2002-2004. The US national average also showed a downward trend from 17.6% in 2002-2004 to 9.4% in 2017-2019.
  • Past-month illicit drug use was reported by 7.7% of Nebraska teens aged 12-17 years in 2017-2019 compared to 5.1% in 2015-2017. The US national average was stable at 8.2% during this time.
  • Past-year initiation of substances (first lifetime use) was reported by youth as follows during 2017-2019: Alcohol 12.4% (US average 9.3%), marijuana 5.9% (US average 5.2%), and cigarettes 2.0% (US average 2.3%).

Marijuana and alcohol use among adolescents in Nebraska have shown positive trends with decreased usage in 2019 compared to 2002. However, illicit drug use has increased between 2015 and 2019.

YOUNG ADULTS AGED 18-25 YEARS

The data for young adults aged 18-25 years in Nebraska is as follows:

  • Past-year marijuana use was reported by 34.9% of young adults in Nebraska in 2017-2019 compared to 24.0% in 2002-2004. During a similar timeframe, the US national average increased from 28.7% in 2002-2004 to 35.0% in 2017-2019.
  • Past-year marijuana use disorder was reported in 5.0% of young adults aged 18-25 years in Nebraska in 2017-2019, compared to 5.5% in 2002-2004. The US national average changed from 6.0% in 2002-2004 to 5.6% in 2017-2019.
  • Past-year opioid use disorder was reported in 0.9% of young adults in Nebraska in 2017-2019 compared to 0.6% in 2015-2017. The US national average changed from 1.3% in 2015-2017 to 1.0% in 2017-2019.
  • Past-year illicit drug use disorder was reported in 7.3% of Nebraska residents aged 18-25 years in 2017-2019 compared to 6.2% in 2015-2017. The US national average was around 7.2% to 7.5% during this time period.
  • Past-month binge alcohol use was reported by 41.8% of young adults in 2017-2019 compared to 42.3% in 2015-2017. The US national average in 2017-2019 was 35.4% showing binge alcohol use in Nebraska is higher than the country as a whole.
  • Past-year alcohol use disorder among young adults aged 18-25 was reported in 13.3% of Nebraska residents in 2017-2019, compared to 25.0% in 2002-2004. The US national average for 2017-2019 was 9.8%. Nebraska therefore has a higher percentage of young adults battling alcohol use disorder compared to the US average for all states.
  • Past-year substance use disorder was reported in 17.7% of young adults aged 18-25 years in Nebraska in 2017-2019 compared to 15.9% in 2015-2017. The national average has ranged between 15.1% and 14.7% during this time.

NEBRASKA RESIDENTS 12 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER

The Behavioral Health Barometer also found the following for 2017-2019 in Nebraska residents aged 12 years and older:

  • Past-year tobacco use: 29.6% (US average 26.8%)
  • Past-year marijuana use: 12.8% (US average 16.2%)
  • Past-year marijuana use disorder: 1.3% (US average 1.6%)
  • Past-year heroin use: 0.03% (US average 0.30%)
  • Past-year prescription painkiller misuse: 2.5% (US average 3.7%)
  • Past-year opioid use disorder: 0.5% (US average 0.7%)
  • Past-year illicit drug use disorder: 2.2% (US average 2.9%)
  • Past-year alcohol use disorder: 5.8% (US average 5.3%)
  • Past-year substance use disorder: 7.1% (US average 7.4%)
  • Number of people enrolled in substance use treatment (single day counts for 2019): 5,868
  • Number of people enrolled in opioid treatment programs (single day counts for 2019): 645
  • Problems among people enrolled in treatment: 29.8% drug problem only, 21.3% alcohol problem only, 48.9% both drug and alcohol problems
A wood-bordered small chalkboard with Recovery written across it in white chalk, kept next to a diary, pen, and a pair of spectacles.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES OF FIGHTING ILLEGAL DRUGS IN NEBRASKA?

Geographical Location

Nebraska is a part of the Midwest HIDTA (high intensity drug trafficking area). The state’s proximity to major drug trafficking routes has made it a center for drug transportation and distribution.

Interstate Highways

Interstate highways 29 and 80 are adjacent to Omaha, giving drug traffickers access to large metropolitan areas in the state as well as national drug markets in the southwestern states and California. [3] The drug trade often spills over to Nebraska from neighboring states, putting a strain on law enforcement agencies across state lines.

Rural Areas

Vast rural areas in Nebraska provide cover for clandestine drug manufacturing and distribution activities. In addition, Mexican drug cartels maintain relationships with Mexican nationals in smaller Nebraska towns who work in the farming, poultry, and meatpacking industries, and use these connections for drug operations.

Limited Resources

While rural Nebraskans have the same access to illegal drugs and harmful prescription drugs, they have limited access to treatment facilities. In addition, law enforcement agencies face resource constraints, affecting their ability to catch drug traffickers.

Methamphetamine Production

Stimulants, including methamphetamine, are some of the most commonly abused drugs in Nebraska, with 35% of primary drug treatment admissions in the state being for stimulants (2011 data). The production of methamphetamine in the state remains a concern and is one the challenges that law enforcement agencies are tackling.

Opioid Epidemic

Although the death rate from opioid overdoses in Nebraska is lower than many other states, like much of the country, Nebraskans are grappling with an opioid epidemic. The Nebraska State Patrol made a record-breaking seizure of nearly 120 pounds of fentanyl in 2018, estimated to be enough to kill more than 25 million people. [4]

If you or someone you love is battling substance abuse, don’t delay calling the National Drug Helpline on 1-844-289-0879. We  can help you find comprehensive addiction treatment programs in Nebraska and put you on the path to long-term recovery.

References:

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nebraska Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2021. Available online. Accessed on August 8, 2023.
  2. SAMHSA. Behavioral Health Barometer Nebraska. Available online. Accessed on August 8, 2023.
  3. National Drug Intelligence Center. Midwest HIDTA Market Areas. Available online. Accessed on August 8, 2023.
  4. National Library of Medicine. Record fentanyl bust in Nebraska. Available online. Accessed on August 8, 2023.

Last updated: August 8, 2023