Addiction and Treatment in Ohio

Repeated substance use can change how the brain functions. These changes can last long after the initial effects (intoxication) of the substance wears off. Intoxication is the strong feelings of euphoria, calm, increased perception, and other feelings caused by the substance. Symptoms of intoxication are different for each substance.

When an individual has a substance use disorder (SUD), they will build up a tolerance to substances like drugs or alcohol. They need to use larger amounts to feel the same effects they felt at the start. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has found that people begin taking drugs for many reasons, including:

• To feel good — feeling pleasure or “high”
• To feel better — relieve stress, forget problems, feel numb
• To do better — improve thinking or performance
• Curiosity and peer pressure- — joining friends or experimentation

Substance Abuse in “The Heart of it All”

Let’s look at some facts:

• In 2018, Ohio healthcare providers wrote 53.5 opioid prescriptions for every 100 people. The U.S. average is 51.4.
• In 2007, accidental drug poisoning became the main cause of injury death in Ohio. For the first time on record, this passes the motor vehicle crash total.
• In 2019:
  • 4,028 people died of accidental drug overdoses, a 7% increase over 2018.
  • Fentanyl was involved in 76% of overdose deaths, frequently in combination with other drugs. That percentage was up from 73% in 2018.
  • Fentanyl was involved in 82% of all heroin-related overdose deaths,77% of all cocaine-related overdose deaths, and 72% of all stimulant/methamphetamine-related overdose deaths.  

Alcohol Abuse

The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services reported that 18.4% (1.5 million) of adults over the age of 19 were binge drinkers. In addition:

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that deaths involving a drunk driver in Ohio were above the national average in every age bracket except 0 to 20 years old.
• Nearly 30% of all alcohol-related crashes involved the death of young adults 21 to 30 years of age.

Commonly Abused Drugs in Ohio

Cocaine

In the 2011 National Drug Threat Survey for Ohio, cocaine remained the drug most often connected to violent crime.

Heroin

The Ohio Department of Health reported that heroin-related deaths passed those of prescription opiate accidental deaths. The 2011 Department of Justice report named Ohio as a High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, particularly for Mexican heroin. This explains the rise in heroin admissions to substance use rehab centers in Ohio as well as the rise in heroin-related crimes.

Marijuana

The highest drug possession arrest rate was for marijuana between 1995 and 2009. The Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services 2010 report showed that 351,277 pounds of marijuana were seized.

Prescription Drugs

The Ohio Substance Abuse Monitoring Network in 2015 reported that prescription opioids were very available throughout all areas of Ohio. There was no “typical” description of an illicit prescription opioid abuser, only that the typical opioid abuser was “everybody.” The Network also discovered that prescription opioid users tend to combine drugs with alcohol and benzodiazepines.

What is Addiction?

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) released a new definition of addiction in April 2011. For the first time, it extended addiction to include behaviors other than problem substance abuse. A group of 80 addiction experts worked for four years to conclude that addiction is about the underlying neurology of the brain, not about outward behavior.

Your Reward System

Addiction affects your brain’s reward, motivation, memory, and associated circuitry. It’s affected so much that your normal motivations are altered. Ultimately, addictive behaviors replace healthy, self-care behaviors.

The brain’s reward system is also changed in such a way that the memory of previous rewards, whether it’s food, sex, or drugs, can set off a biological and behavioral response to engage in the addictive behavior again. This is despite negative consequences and sometimes even when you don’t have any pleasure in the activity anymore.

The frontal cortex of the brain is also affected in a way that alters your impulse control and judgment. This brings about the “pathological pursuit of rewards,” according to ASAM. This is when addicts return to their addictive behavior just to feel normal.

Finding the Best Rehab Centers in Ohio

Recognizing that drugs and alcohol have taken over your life or the life of your loved one is a big step. This usually leads to the question of what to do now. It can seem overwhelming, but knowledge can give you control over making an informed decision. 

10 Questions to Ask About a Treatment Program

1. Does the rehab program have the appropriate state, federal, or local licenses?
2. What accreditation has the treatment program been awarded? When was the last review?
3. Does the substance abuse program treat adults or adolescents or both?
4. Does the alcohol and drug rehab program provide 24-hour onsite medical staff?
5. Does the program have certified addiction physicians, nurses, and therapists?
6. Does the treatment program use a team approach?
7. Does the treatment facility have an inpatient medically-based detox unit?
8. Does the rehab have a dual diagnosis program?
9. Does the addiction facility have relapse prevention groups?
10. What are the levels of care and types of treatment programs?

You may want to add questions, or you might not be concerned with everything on this list. For instance, are you looking for a luxury rehab, or are you concerned with a sober living program? Rehab centers in Ohio are more than happy to answer all of your questions

The Importance of a Dual Diagnosis

It needs to be mentioned that an underlying mental issue is very common with a substance use disorder (SUD). Very often, individuals with anxiety, trauma, or bipolar disorder, to name a few, will turn to substance abuse to curb the symptoms of their mental disorder. This is considered a dual diagnosis. It’s essential to treat these two issues at the same time. When looking for a treatment facility, it’s important to find one with experience in dual diagnosis.

What Are “Levels of Care” and Types of Treatment?

There are several levels of care and types of alcohol and drug treatment programs that use different philosophies and approaches to treatment.

Inpatient Detox

The patient will stay in a detox program to help ease you through the withdrawal process with 24-hour medical supervision. This is important because withdrawal can be extremely intense, and many people relapse before completing detox.

Inpatient or Residential Treatment

The individual lives at the treatment center. Activities are supervised round the clock. The advantage is that the patient is away from any environmental or emotional distractions and can focus on recovery.

Intensive Outpatient Treatment

In this level of care, the patient will continue to live at home while attending therapy sessions at the treatment center most days of the week. This level can also be used as a step-down level from residential treatment.

Outpatient Treatment

This outpatient level is less restrictive than the intensive level. It is typically used as an additional step-down and for people who have a strong support system at home and at work. It can also be beneficial for people whose substance use is not so severe or long-term.

Sober Living Program

Some treatment programs have sober residences affiliated with their programs. In a sober-living residence, individuals who have completed treatment but are not confident about living on their own yet can live with other people who are going through the same issues. Different homes have slightly different rules but typically all members support the upkeep and maintenance of the home. Many require residents to attend therapy or 12-step meetings.

Types of Treatment

Therapy is where the real work is done after detox. Every level of care is built on the cornerstone of therapy. These are a few common therapies used in rehab centers in Ohio.

Behavioral Therapies

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is common psychotherapy (talk therapy). It is a preferred type of therapy because it helps the patient quickly identify and cope with specific issues with fewer sessions than other types of therapy. It is effective for substance abuse treatment and is useful in the treatment of mental health issues.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

DBT is a type of talk therapy that teaches group skills to help people learn and use skills and strategies necessary to create a new life. DBT is more focused on managing negative emotions. 

Family Therapy

Treatment programs for individuals who have alcohol and drug addiction problems have been found to have better outcomes if the addict’s family is involved in the process. If one member of the family has an addiction, the impact is felt throughout the whole family. Family therapy is important to resolve conflicts and put the family back into balance.

Holistic and Experiential Therapies

Holistic and experiential therapies help heal the patient’s mind, body, and spirit. This type of therapy is meant to help the individual focus on the moment, not the past.

What Do I Do if My Loved One Refuses to Enter a Treatment Program? 

One of the first things you should understand about addiction is the severity of denial. It is powerful and destructive. No one wants to admit they’re an addict. But there are steps you can take to break through the denial and help your loved one get treatment. The steps are part of the process known as an intervention. 

There are several types of interventions, and you will need a professionally trained interventionist to help you decide how to proceed. Many treatment centers have an interventionist on staff or your insurance company may have a list of professionals.

How Do You Pay for Treatment in Ohio?

Insurance

One of the many important parts of both the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) is to make sure that insurance companies offer substance abuse disorder and mental health benefits. They ensure these benefits must be equal to or better than the coverage for surgical and general medical care. 

Private Pay

Many people find that their insurance doesn’t cover the total expense of rehab.  They can pay for the balance on their own. In addition, many people would rather just pay the total themselves and not turn it into their insurance.

State or Locally Operated Programs

These programs are free to patients. However, they generally have long waiting lists and a strict screening process. For more information, call 800-780-2294.

Personal Loan

You may be able to obtain a loan from your bank or use a credit card. Many times, family members find it is worth the investment to help with a loan for treatment. There are also healthcare credit cards with deferred interest. You can apply for one at www.carecredit.com.

Medicaid

Medicaid is a federal program that provides medical coverage for low-income families, individuals, the elderly, and pregnant women. Anyone covered by Medicaid can be covered for substance abuse treatment.

Contact the treatment center you are considering and they will be more than happy to contact your insurance company. They will also be able to discuss all of your options. Some treatment centers are able to arrange low-interest financing.

Staying on Track

You can achieve lifelong sobriety. Completing a formal treatment program is not the end of your journey. It has been found that the longer you work at your recovery, the more likely you are to remain abstinent. Here are some recovery groups that work. You might find one that will work for you.

Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous

Twelve-step programs have proven to be an effective way to maintain sobriety. You can find meetings in the state of Ohio at alcoholicsanonymous.com/aa-meetings/ohio/ or www.naohio.org/.

SMART Recovery

At Self-Management and Recovery Training Meetings people help each other with their issues regarding addiction of any type. You can access meetings online through www.smartrecovery.org.

You Can Find Help at Drug Rehab Centers In Ohio

Although drug and alcohol abuse is still a problem in the state, there are countless rehab centers in Ohio working to fix the problem, one person at a time. You can find rehabs statewide, so don’t wait any longer. Contact us today.