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Utah Drug Statistics and Resources

Across the US, an epidemic of drug and alcohol addiction continues to rage. The surging opioid crisis continues to claim tens of thousands of lives each year. And yet, despite the alarming rates of dependency among Americans of all ages, the state of Utah consistently ranks significantly below the national average across all major categories of drug and alcohol misuse. For Utahans who are experiencing addiction, however, state and national averages mean very little. Indeed, chemical dependency knows no borders, but for those seeking help, there is a wide array of free addiction recovery resources in Utah.

Drug Statistics in Utah

662 Drug Deaths
In 2021, there were approximately 662 lethal drug overdoses in Utah or roughly 21 deaths per 100,000 persons.
In 2022, 74% of drug-related deaths in Utah involved opioids.
In 2021, just 4% of high school students in Utah reported at least one binge drinking incident within the previous 30 days, substantially lower than the national average of 11%.
Over 1.5 Million Opioid Prescriptions
In 2022, approximately 46.3 opioid prescriptions were written for every 100 persons in Utah (1,514,000 total).

Addiction Nonprofits in Utah

Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness (USARA)

This nonprofit organization provides community-based, peer-led services for persons experiencing addiction and their families across Utah. They offer addiction education, prevention, and outreach, as well as connections to addiction recovery programs, including specialized treatment options for vulnerable client populations.

Odyssey House

This nonprofit treatment facility provides a complete continuum of care for youth and adults, including inpatient and outpatient programs. Dedicated services are available for parents with young children and low-income individuals. Free services are available for qualifying adults who live in the Salt Lake City area. They also accept state Medicare and Medicaid programs and offer low and no cost services based on need.

Valley EPIC

This nonprofit provides inpatient, outpatient, and wraparound mental health and addiction recovery programs, including specialized services for parents with young children, homeless and indigent persons, persons exiting incarceration, and persons with co-occurring addiction and serious mental illness (SMI).

Harm Reduction Programs

Utah Harm Reduction Coalition

The Utah Harm Reduction Coalition provides a full suite of services for persons experiencing opioid dependency. They offer sterile injection kits and safe disposal containers; telehealth, outpatient, and community-based care, and overdose and infection prevention and education services.

Utah Naloxone

This free program offers comprehensive harm reduction services, including sterile injection kits, safe disposal containers, naloxone kits, and fentanyl test strips. They also provide health screenings, including HIV/HEPC testing, as well as wound care. Education and prevention services and referrals for higher-intensity addiction treatment are also available at no cost based on need.

Overdose Prevention–TriCounty Health

This state-sponsored agency provides community-based harm reduction services, including free naloxone distribution and education; sterile injection kits and sharps disposal containers, hygiene and wound care supplies, and connections to higher-intensity medical, mental health, and/or addiction recovery programs. They also provide addiction prevention and education programs.

Government Grants & Resources

Utah Department of Health and Human Services

This state agency provides comprehensive medical, mental health, and addiction recovery programs for Utah residents of all ages, including specialized programs for vulnerable populations, such as youth, seniors, pregnant and postpartum women, parents of young children, trauma survivors, homeless and indigent persons, and persons with co-occurring disorders. They offer addiction prevention, education, and treatment programs, including community-based and inpatient, outpatient, and aftercare services.

Salt Lake County Youth Services Substance Abuse Program

Sponsored by the Utah Division of Behavioral Health Services, they offer outpatient mental health and addiction recovery services for Utah residents aged 20 and under. The program is free and there are no income restrictions.

Sobriety Foundation

The Sobriety Foundation offers need-based scholarships for adults in recovery. Funds are designated to support recipients’ residency in an approved sober living home and any adjunctive treatment they may require while enrolled in the sober living program.

College Addiction Resources

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Resources

A program provided by Utah State University, they offer addiction education, prevention, and intervention services for current USU students, including access to free on-campus counseling programs and referrals for additional services.

University of Utah

Operating in partnership with the Association of Recovery in Higher Education, the University of Utah offers high-level support for current University of Utah students in addiction recovery. Program leaders and administrators undergo extensive training to ensure the development of robust, evidence-based addiction education, prevention, and recovery support programs across the university system.

Drug Counseling and Treatment

A service of Brigham Young University, they provide current BYU students with comprehensive addiction education, prevention, and intervention services, including mental health counseling. Referrals for off-campus services are available as needed.

LGBTQ+ Resources

Utah LGBTQ+ SafeZone

Administered by the Utah Chamber of Commerce, they provide information and access to a wide array of mental health and addiction recovery programs for LGBTQ+ youth, adults, and families across Utah.

LiveOn Utah

This nonprofit provides access to mental and behavioral health programs for LGBTQ+ persons, including a confidential hotline for callers in crisis. Mental health specialists are available 24 hours a day, 365 days per year to offer support and care referrals.

LGBTQ+ Davis County Resource Directory

A publication of the Davis County Utah Health Department, they offer descriptions and content information for specialized programs serving the LGBTQ+ community across Davis County and throughout the state of Utah, including mental health and addiction recovery programs.

Veterans Programs

Utah Veterans Alliance

Utah Veterans Alliance provides access to low and no cost mental health and addiction recovery services for military personnel, veterans, and their families. This includes 24/7 access to crisis hotlines and referrals for state and local detox, inpatient, outpatient, sober living, and aftercare programs.

Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs (DVMA)

This state-sponsored program provides a full complement of services for military personnel, veterans, families, and employers, including access to mental health and addiction recovery services. This includes assistance in accessing VA and related benefits to fund addiction recovery and related services.

Veterans Crisis Line

The Veterans Crisis Line provides 24/7 access to support for military personnel, veterans, and their families, including no-cost referrals to specialized mental health care and addiction recovery programs in their area.

Indigenous & Tribal Programs

Substance Use and Recovery

Administered by the Tribal Access to Justice Innovation program, they offer information and access to addiction recovery programs, mental health cae, and harm reduction services for American Indian and Alaska Native youth and adults across Utah.

Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake

This program provides culturally-responsive mental health care and addiction recovery programs for American Indian and Native Alaskan youth and adults. Their services include outpatient treatment programs incorporating Native healing traditions and practices.

Sacred Circle Healthcare

This program provides culturally-responsive mental health care and addiction recovery services for American Indian and Alaska Native youth, adults, and families. Their treatment models integrate Native healing traditions and practices.

Drug Laws in Utah

Opioid Prevention Policies in Utah

Administered by the Utah Valley DPC, this page provides information on opioid and harm reduction statutes in Utah including Utah Good Samaritan, naloxone use and distribution, and overdose prevention policies.

Drug Laws

Administered by the Utah State Legislature, this site provides information on drug possession, manufacturing, and distribution statutes in Utah.

Alcohol Laws

Managed by the Utah State Legislature, this site provides information on state statutes concerning alcohol consumption, possession, manufacturing, and sale and distribution.

Sources

Where do calls go?

Calls to any general helpline will be answered or returned by one of the treatment providers listed, each of which is a paid advertiser: Rehab Media Group, Recovery Helpline, Alli Addiction Services.

By calling the helpline you agree to the terms of use. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. There is no obligation to enter treatment.