Drug and Alcohol Addiction in Akron, Ohio
Akron is the fifth largest city in the state of Ohio and is located in Summit County. As is the case throughout the state, Akron is suffering from the worst affects of the opioid epidemic.
Opioid Addiction in Akron
In 2016, Summit County was devastated by the powerful synthetic drugs fentanyl and carfentanil. These drugs were sending an average of 20 people to the hospital per day. Preliminary data from 2017 shows that many of the 199 overdose deaths last year involved meth, cocaine, heroin, and other drugs mixed with fentanyl and carfentanil. However, unintentional overdose deaths in 2017 appear to have decreased by 100 compared with 2016. In 2016, 299 Summit County residents overdosed and died.
Akron narcotic officers said they discovered fentanyl mixed with street drugs other than heroin as well. They also noted that street dealers generally sell a variety of drugs from marijuana to heroin.
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Treating Addiction in Akron
In 2018, Akron was personally touched by the overdose of a local school board member, John Otterman. He was found unconscious along with a white substance that tested positive for fentanyl, as well as marijuana. Otterman was given four doses of Naloxone before he was revived and sent to the hospital for further treatment. Last year, Otterman encouraged equipping every public school in Akron with naloxone. The board eventually approved the plan.
Recently, Governor John Kasich announced that new rules are necessary for companies that distribute drugs in the state. He commented that “total clarity,” is needed for where drug distributors sell their products. Across the country, drug distributors are under pressure to take a stronger lead in the fight against the ongoing addiction epidemic. Multiple lawsuits have accused distributors of not monitoring suspicious drug orders closely enough.
Some Ohioan entrepreneurs are taking the drug epidemic into their own hands. Some companies are forming non-pharmacological pain treatments, others are creating tech solutions to make sure people take the correct dosages of medication, and another is focused on treatment and support for those struggling with addiction.
Summit County received a grant of 1.3 million last October for efforts aimed at diverting low-level felony offenders from jail. That money is being used by Greenleaf LLC to decrease the backlog of assessments for Summit County’s intervention program for substance abuse and mental health issues, a program that helps criminal defendants find treatment.
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With just 30 days at a rehab center, you can get clean and sober, start therapy, join a support group, and learn ways to manage your cravings.
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If you or someone you love are having trouble quitting drugs or alcohol in Akron, know that you’re not alone. Help is out there from leading drug and alcohol treatment facilities that will help get you on the road to recovery. Contact a dedicated rehab provider today for more information.
