Addiction Policy Forum Launches Website in Ohio

Ohio is among the first four states to launch a website portal where residents can find help for addiction. The Addiction Policy forum launched this tool in February 2018 for Ohioans at addictionresourcecenter.org.

The Addiction Resource Center (or ARC) portal offers resources to residents who are struggling with addiction or who have family members or friends who are. In addition, the portal provides information about addiction, including easy-to-read guides about why addiction occurs, how one can seek help for a friend or family member, and what one can do to support a loved one in treatment. In addition, there is a self-assessment tool residents can use in order to determine if they truly need help for addiction.

Ohio’s Addiction Problem

11 people die every day in Ohio as the result of a drug overdose. In 2007, overdoses surpassed the number of automobile accident-related deaths to become the number one injury-related cause of death in the state. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of drug overdose deaths in the state increased from 2014 to 2015 by 13 percent, which is statistically significant. Only four other states saw such a statistically significant increase in that same time frame: New York, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

Opioid addiction is among one of the most serious issues in Ohio. Many people who have become addicted to prescription painkillers are turning to heroin and illicitly produced fentanyl, which has caused a rash of overdose deaths. However, other drugs like methamphetamine, benzodiazepines, and prescription stimulants are causing serious problems in this area of the country as well, and all of these can cause fatal overdoses.

How Can I Help Someone I Love with a Substance Use Disorder?

One of the most important things to remember about making sure someone with a substance use disorder gets the help they need is to act fast. Don’t wait until they hit rock bottom or things get worse; it’s always better to seek treatment earlier rather than later.

• If your loved one will be easy to talk to, you may want to sit them down when they are sober and discuss your feelings about their substance abuse and your concern for them. Try to stay calm at all times because they are likely to become upset.
• If you have already tried this approach or you do not feel comfortable talking to your loved one alone, you can set up an intervention with five or six people who are close to your loved one. Make sure everyone stays calm and tries to stick to “I” statements. Having them write down what they want to say before the intervention can help too.

The goal should always be to get your loved one to find help. Without professional treatment, it is extremely difficult to recover from addiction.

Find Treatment Centers Near You Today

Call 800-996-6135(Who Answers?) to speak with a treatment advisor. We will help you locate safe, effective facilities in your area where you or your loved one can detox from drugs and begin recovery.