Akron Drug Abuse, Crime Rates, and Rehab Options
Akron, Ohio is part of Summit County and has a population of 197,846 as of the 2017 Census. Once a booming city filled with some of the country’s most beloved factories and industrial areas, the past few decades have not been kind to Akron. The population of Akron has decreased significantly over the past 30 years and has left some areas of the city to deteriorate and become havens for crime. In 1990, 223,535 called Akron home, but due to factories closing and the financial crisis of 2008. Population growth is non-existent in the city and it doesn’t seem like the city will reach that point again anytime in the near future.
As jobs were lost and the population decreased, crime rates in the city rose. One’s chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Akron is one in 20. Akron has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes, from the smallest midwest towns to the largest major cities. One’s chance of becoming a victim of violent crime in Akron is not as common as becoming a victim of property crime. Property crimes have risen substantially over the past twenty years, greatly due to the widespread drug addiction issues in the city. Drugs became more and more prevalent and have now become one of the most prominent problems that the city is facing.
Crime Rates in Ohio
Many people who struggle with substance abuse will turn to crime in order to support their addiction. Shoplifting, fraud, car theft, and burglaries are the most common. Crimes of opportunity that yield some easy cash allow addicts to fulfill their cravings for a short period of time. Those cravings return day after day and if they do not seek help from a rehab center in Akron, then they will persist for months and years to come.
The most commonly abused drug in Ohio is marijuana, but the chances of someone who abuses this drug turning to crime to support their habit is slim. Other more powerful mood and mind-altering substances like cocaine, prescription pills, and heroin pose a much more serious threat to the area.
Drug overdose deaths have risen dramatically over the past ten years in Akron and throughout the rest of Ohio. A large portion of fatal overdoses that occur can be directly linked to opiates, primarily heroin and fentanyl. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opiate that can be 100x more potent than pure heroin. Just a few specs of this drug is enough to cause a fatal overdose in a full-grown adult male. In 2017, there were 144 fentanyl-related deaths in Summit County, this is nearly ten times the national average. Overdose is the number one cause of unintentional death and injury in the state of Ohio.
Rehabs and Detoxes in Akron
One of the first steps towards a better life is to enter a detox center in Akron, Ohio. Detox is easily one of the most important parts of the recovery process. Going through withdrawals alone is not easy. When someone is physically and mentally dependent on drugs and/or alcohol they will face a variety of painful and draining symptoms. If they are not in a supervised environment and receiving proper medications, their chance of relapse is very high. Detoxes in Akron help those struggling safely and comfortably overcome their symptoms all while in a medically supervised environment.
Upon completing detox it is highly recommended that the client continues their care by entering an inpatient rehab center. Inpatient and residential treatment programs in Akron help with the mental side of substance abuse. Most people will stay at a residential treatment center for 28-45 days, but this time can vary from person to person. While in the facility they will remain under the care and supervision of the staff there. They will attend group meetings, learn about relapse prevention, and partake in one on one counseling sessions. They live in the program and will have to place their life on hold while they work on their problems.
Why is Rehab so Important?
Drug addiction and alcoholism is not a surface level issue and it should not be treated as such. Going to detox and not entering some type of rehab center is like getting an oil change but not putting gas in your car. Just because the body is back to normal does not mean that the mind is ok. Inpatient treatment centers help address the underlying issues that may have fueled the substance abuse in the first place. Dual diagnosis rehabs in Akron understand the importance of treating mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. If these problems are not addressed one can easily relapse after they leave the center.
While inpatient rehab should be the first choice for anyone looking to overcome their substance abuse problems, not everyone will have the luxury of entering one of these centers. Maybe they are unable to place their responsibilities on hold or they do not have the financial means to enter rehab. Thankfully, there are still options available to those in this situation. Intensive outpatient (IOP) is another form of rehab that is available to Akron residents.
Intensive outpatient meets three to four times a week for a few hours each time. Clients who enter an IOP will not live in the facility, they will live at home. This means that they are still able to work and live their life, but will simply go to IOP throughout the week. IOP is best used as an extended form of care for those who have already completed inpatient treatment, but it is better than nothing for those who are unable to enter a 28-day program.
If you or someone you care about are struggling with substance abuse issues, please seek out professional help. There are multiple rehabs and detoxes in Akron that are designed to help people start their journey on the road to recovery. Building a strong foundation is essential when one wants to build a new life for themselves. No one should ever try to overcome drug addiction or alcohol abuse issues alone. If you would like to see if you are a good fit for our rehab center, please contact our toll-free line at any time. If we are unable to accept you at our treatment program we will help you find one that matches your specific needs. Calls are always free of charge and completely confidential.
Sober Support Groups and Meetings in Akron
Attending a support group is an extremely important part of staying clean and sober. The most well known and established support group in the world got its start right in Akron, Ohio. Alcoholic’s Anonymous started its humble beginnings over 75 years ago and now has a worldwide reach. For many individuals with substance use disorders in Akron, Ohio, support groups are the cornerstone of recovery. Men and females come together in these conferences to help each other in the process of recovering from addiction.
Both Anonymous Alcoholics (AA) and Anonymous Narcotics (NA) have been around for multiple decades Many AA meetings and NA gatherings are easily accessible for residents of Akron. There are literally hundreds that take place every month in the area. All are free to attend and open to anyone who wants to stop using drugs and/or alcohol.
Akron AA Meeting finder: https://akronaa.org/meetings/
Akron NA Meeting finder: https://www.na.org:443/meetingsearch/text-results.php?country=USA&state=OH&city=akron&zip=&street=&within=10&day=0&lang=&orderby=distance
What Are Good Alternatives to the 12 Steps?
Refuge Recovery is based on Buddhist teachings and principals and focuses heavily on mindfulness and meditation. Refuge Recovery currently has a meeting in Akron, Ohio on Thursdays at 6:00 pm. This meeting is called “Our Zen Way” and takes place at St Johns Recovery Outreach Center 1034 Brown St Akron, OH. This meeting is free to attend and open to anyone who wishes to overcome their substance abuse issues.
Celebrate Recovery explains itself as “A Christ-centered, 12 step recovery program for anyone struggling with hurt, pain or addiction of any kind. Celebrate Recovery is a safe place to find community and freedom from the issues that are controlling our life.” This is much more of a religious program compared to the other support groups mentioned on this page. There are 6 active in-person meetings that occur throughout the week within Akron city limits. There are over a dozen others that take place within 25 miles of the city center.
SMART Recovery is an acronym for Self-Management and Recovery Training. It has little to no religious or spiritual teachings/principals, unlike the other support groups mentioned. The SMART Recovery approach to recovery is summarized in the Four-Point program. The goal of this group is to enhance and maintain motivation to abstain from using, cope with any urges that may arise, manage thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, balance momentary, and enduring satisfactions. There are currently twelve different in person SMART recovery meetings that take place every week in Akron.
Refuge Recovery Meetings: https://refugerecovery.org/meetings?tsml-day=any&tsml-region=ohio
Celebrate Recovery Meetings: https://locator.crgroups.info/
SMART Recovery Meetings: https://www.smartrecoverytest.org/local/meetings/
If you are unable to attend a meeting in person, don’t worry. All of these groups host online forums and live meetings for those who are unable to get to one in person. Thankfully, there is no shortage of meetings in Akron, Ohio. There is no excuse to not be able to make at least a few each week. This is an extremely important part of substance abuse recovery and anyone looking to stay on the right track should take advantage of the free meetings in their area.
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