Expert Insights
As a fairly new mom, one of the things that keeps me up at night is worrying about my children. Like every mom, I want to make sure my kids are safe. And one of the places where we simply expect them to be safe is within their schools. But we’re sadly discovering that the implied safety of a school is more of a facade. I recently read about a Fort Worth school within the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District that has seen a rash of opioid overdoses – including three fatal overdoses – meaning the kids were getting and taking illicit opioid pills while in school. One mother said she even reported the problem to school officials after her daughter admitted she was addicted after months of taking opioid pills between classes. No action was taken by the officials. This only strengthens my resolve to have an open dialogue with my children (when they’re old enough) about the dangers of drugs and the potential consequences of addiction. It’s up to us as parents to take the lead in this battle against drug abuse and ultimately keep our kids safe.
~ Natalie Baker
Are There Low-Cost and Free Drug Rehab Centers in Fort Worth?
If you do not have private health insurance, you can still access life-saving addiction help. State-funded and free clinics for drug and alcohol rehab in Fort Worth offer low-cost or free addiction treatments.
Some of these facilities receive state funding to provide care to low-income individuals or those without health insurance.
Low-cost and free drug rehabs in Fort Worth often require certain information before you are admitted, including:
- Proof that you are a Texas resident
- Your legal status in the United States
- Information about your addiction status
- Proof of income and lack of insurance
How Does Fort Worth Compare in Alcohol and Drug Use?
Fort Worth is a vibrant, beautiful city in Tarrant County, located in the north-central region of Texas. However, the Lone Star State is facing a public health crisis due to drug and alcohol addiction, also known as substance use disorder (SUD). Fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid, has been particularly ravaging, playing a part in 1,672 overdose deaths in the state in 2021.1 Addiction can have significant consequences on individuals, families, and communities, but professional help is within reach. There are nearly 60 accredited alcohol and drug rehab centers in Fort Worth.2
Statistics provide some insight into how significant substance abuse is in Fort Worth:2, 3
175,463 hospital visits in Tarrant County were due to substance abuse in 2017
Alcohol, opioids, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamines are the most misused substances in the county
93% of Texans aged 18 or older had an SUD in 2020
18% of Texans aged 18 or older had alcohol use disorder (AUD) in 2020
In 2020, 27,078 individuals sought help for substance use disorders in Texas. Research suggests that only 10% of people who struggle with addiction get the care they need.4, 5
Alcohol and Drug Laws in Fort Worth
Several laws enforced in Fort Worth benefit those who wish to recover from substance use disorders or address drug use generally. It would benefit you to know the laws governing drug and alcohol use in Fort Worth before traveling there.
Direct Court Program: The Tarrant County Direct Court Program was designed to reduce drug use among those who are convicted of nonviolent crimes. Direct Court is available for non-violent, repeat drug offenders to help reduce the costs of drug use and possible future crimes. Participants will enter a highly structured addiction treatment program tailored to meet their needs. They will be required to attend all rehab activities and undergo regular drug testing to ensure they are following program guidelines.16
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): Under Federal law, employers with 50 or more employees are required to make accommodations for employees who need medical care, including rehab for substance use disorder.16 This must include time off or permission to take vacation time and sick leave without the risk of losing their job. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) mandates that all employees are entitled to 12 weeks off during any 12-month period for any health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the functions of their job. This includes substance use and treatment.17
Jessica Sosa Act: Texas did not have a Good Samaritan law until 2021. This allows people to call emergency services in the case of an overdose without fear of repercussions with law enforcement. Now, due to the Jessica Sosa Act (Texas HB 1694), anyone who calls 911 to help a person who has overdosed will not be prosecuted, even if they have a certain number of drugs on them. This law was passed to prevent overdose deaths.18
Resources
- Fighting Fentanyl | Texas Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Www.hhs.texas.gov.
- FindTreatment.gov. (n.d.). FindTreatment.gov.
- Visit Fort Worth. (2022). Fast facts.
- Wells, S. & Sharma, S. (2019). Substance Abuse/Misuse Community Needs Assessment Substance Abuse/Misuse Community Needs Assessment Report of North Texas – 2019. DFWHC Foundation.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. (2021). 2019-2020 NSDUH State-Specific Tables.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. (2020). National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS): 2020. U. S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- American Medical Association. (2019). National Roadmap on State-Level Efforts to End the Opioid Epidemic: Leading-edge Practices and Next Steps.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). Principles of effective treatment. In Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition).
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2010). Comorbidity: Addiction and Other Mental Illnesses.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020). Part 1: The Connection Between Substance Use Disorders and Mental Illness. In Common Comorbidities with Substance Use Disorders Research Report.
- National Center for PTSD. (2022). PTSD and substance abuse in veterans. U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Parmar, A. & Kaloiya, G. (2018). Comorbidity of Personality Disorder among Substance Use Disorder Patients: A Narrative Review. Indian Journal Psychological Medicine, 40(6), 517-527.
- Linehan, M. M. and Wilks, C. R. (2018). The Course and Evolution of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. The American Journal of Psychotherapy, 69(2).
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). Motivational Enhancement Therapy (Alcohol, Marijuana, Nicotine). In Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition).
- Visit Fort Worth. (2022). Camp Bowie.
- Visit Fort Worth. (2022). Near Southside.
- Visit Fort Worth. (2022). Panther Island.
- Tarrant County Texas. (2022). Direct Program.
- Family and Medical Leave Act Advisor. (n.d.). Serious Health Condition – Leave for Treatment of Substance Abuse. U. S. Department of Labor.
- 87th Legislature of the State of Texas. (2021). H.B. No. 1694. (Tex.)