Detox Centers in Westerly, Rhode Island

Westerly is a southwestern shoreline town in Rhode Island’s Washington County. It’s home to a large population of 22,501 people and is considered mostly suburban.¹ The residents here are a mixture of young professionals, families, and retirees. With plenty of activities for all age groups and above-average public schools, Westerly is considered one of the best places to live in Rhode Island.

However, Westerly—as well as the rest of Rhode Island—has been a part of the nation’s opioid crisis. Having said that, Westerly has seen a sharp increase in substance use disorders and overdose cases (many fatal) over the past decade.² Rhode Island’s youth population has especially been affected as they’ve made up for 10.8% of the state’s substance use disorder cases between 2017 and 2019 alone.²

This was also during a time when the regional average for youth population engagement in illicit substance use was 12.1%, while the national average for the same population group was only 9.5%.²

Cocaine, as well as marijuana, MDMA, and heroin, are some of the most popular substances used among this population group.³ However, Washington County has become immersed in the opioid crisis, bringing prescription opioids—including heroin—to the forefront of the crisis.³ Fentanyl, especially, has become a danger as it’s responsible for a 1,125% increase in opioid-related deaths from 2011 and 2017.³

The problem with fentanyl is that it’s more potent than any other opioid out there. While it’s traditionally only prescribed by medical professionals, authorities have found that more and more “dark labs” are popping up globally, producing the synthetic opioid and selling it illegally.³ Authorities have also concluded that since fentanyl is easily mixed with most other substances, it’s the root cause of the high numbers of overdose-related deaths occurring in Westerly and all of Washington County.

Substance use disorders aren’t always obvious at first, but when left unchecked, they can take over your life. That’s why finding a treatment program as soon as possible is essential.

There are currently 26 treatment facilities within a 25-mile radius in Westerly.⁴ Among those treatment facilities, you’ll find:⁴

• 16 outpatient programs.
• 10 residential programs.
• 18 programs for co-occurring mental health and substance use treatment.
• 13 interim care programs.

As with most, the treatment facilities in Westerly will likely offer more than one type of treatment program. However, not all facilities will have available space for residential care, and not all will have an interim care program while you wait. It should also be noted that while outpatient care seems less intimidating, it isn’t suitable for substance use cases that require medical care and supervision.

Fortunately, if you’re unable to find the type of treatment you’re looking for within 25 miles of Westerly, you can always expand your search. For example, there are 661 treatment facilities within a 100-mile radius of Westerly, which is still fairly close to home.⁴ Out of those 661 facilities, you’ll find that 479 offer outpatient care, 195 offer residential care, and 256 have an interim care program if needed.⁴

When dealing with a substance use disorder, it’s common to seek out support group meetings, such as those sponsored by Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). While working through a treatment program and as a part of aftercare, these meetings are also often mandatory. Most importantly, these group meetings offer a foundation of peer support in the forms of understanding, acceptance, friendship, mentorship, and more.

To find the meeting place nearest to you, see the meeting schedules below. Just be sure to check them frequently, as dates, times, and even locations are subject to change.

• Rhode Island AA Meetings
• Washington County Area of NA Meetings Finder
• New England Region of NA Meetings Finder

Please keep in mind that while these meetings are an excellent source of support, they are not in any way a form of treatment.

Sources:

1. (n.d.). Westerly, Rhode Island.
2. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). Behavioral health barometer, Rhode Island, volume 6.
3. (n.d.). Washington County fentanyl death statistics.
4. gov. (n.d.). Results.