Newark is a medium-sized city in central Ohio just east of Columbus. It is the county seat of Licking County and currently has just under 50,000 residents. Newark is located just north of I-70 and is home to several universities and museums. It is also home to a significant drug presence and acts as a waystation for drugs moving between the larger cities in Ohio. In addition to acting as a stopping point for drugs moving through the city, there is also a serious drug epidemic within Newark and the surrounding areas. Drug use, drug arrests, and drug overdoses have been on the rise over the last few years, and this has only been accelerating. If someone is struggling with drugs and alcohol, it is highly recommended to enter a Newark drug and alcohol rehab center.
Substance Abuse In Newark
Newark has seen an increase in the availability of all drugs over the last decade, but in recent years some certain drugs have become significantly more widely available. In particular, fentanyl, illicit buprenorphine, illicit gabapentin, and crystal meth. There has also been a major issue with fake Xanax pills being sold. These fake pills oftentimes contain fentanyl which is an extremely dangerous drug. It is an opioid drug that is so potent it is able to lead to overdoses in experienced opioid users who have a high tolerance. Finding this drug in something that is supposed to be Xanax, a non-opioid drug, is even more dangerous since someone may not normally use opioids, and therefore have little to no tolerance. This dramatically increases the risk of overdose and overdose death compared to someone who is knowingly and regularly using opioids.
Aside from the significant increases in the drugs mentioned above, there have also been less drastic, but still significant, increases in the presence and availability of other drugs in Newark. Cocaine, crack, heroin, Valium, marijuana, and THC concentrates. While the increase in the availability of these drugs is not a severe as fentanyl and crystal meth, it is still a steadily worsening problem in Newark and the nearby areas. Drug arrests and overdoses have been on the rise as well as drug seizures and this is leading to hundreds of incarcerations and, unfortunately, overdose deaths.
A contributing factor to the rise in drug overdoses is the introduction of unconventional cutting agents in the drugs around Newark. While drugs have contained cutting agents for decades, they have usually been fairly harmless and relatively safe, the cutting agents that have been used in recent years present their own unique risks and dangers. For example, cocaine that has been seized near Newark has been found to contain levamisole, atropine, and phenacetin among other compounds. Levamisole is a deworming drug for livestock, atropine is a heart and blood pressure medication, and phenacetin is a painkiller that was withdrawn from the market in 1983 in the US due to kidney damage it produced. These are simply the cutting agents found in cocaine, and many of the other drugs in Newark contain a wide range of other dangerous and harmful cutting agents.
Newark’s Response To Substance Abuse
While the drug problem in Newark is certainly bad, there are people in the city of Newark and the surrounding areas that have been taking steps to improve the situation. These include community organizations, non-profit groups, charities, and government programs. While they are making a difference, there is still a very long way to go for the people of Newark. Just a few of these helpful groups and organizations include:
- Mental Health & Recovery for Licking and Knox Counties: This is a government office that provides a wealth of resources for people in Licking and Knox counties that may be struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues.
- Recovery Is Beautiful: This is a peer-led substance abuse recovery organization that can provide guidance and direction to people already in recovery or people trying to get sober.
- Pathways of Central Ohio: This non-profit group provides access to care and also has a crisis hotline available by dialing 211 on a phone or texting your zip code to the number 898-211.
- The Main Place: This is a peer-run recovery organization that provides guidance and support services for people struggling with substance abuse or mental health issues.
- Licking Memorial Behavioral Health Services & Addiction Medicine: This is a hospital that specializes in substance abuse and mental health issues. They have an acute detox center that can provide medical care to people who are in desperate need of help.
Drug and Alcohol Detox & Rehab in Newark
Using drugs and alcohol can be very dangerous, but it can also be dangerous to quit using certain drugs suddenly. In particular, quitting alcohol and benzodiazepines suddenly can produce dangerous or even life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. If someone has been drinking a lot, using benzos such as Xanax in large quantities, or doing either of these substances for a long time, then entering a Newark drug and alcohol detox center is highly recommended. Entering one of these centers can not only reduce the risks of dangerous complications, but it can also reduce the discomfort of withdrawal. Once detox is completed, someone may begin the recovery and treatment process in earnest.
Addiction Recovery In Newark
During their time in our Newark drug and alcohol rehab center, we encourage our clients to begin building new relationships and connections with the wider recovery community. Each person is different, and each person has their own unique preferences. There is no right way to recover. Thankfully, there are multiple recovery fellowships in and around Newark that someone may look into. These range from drug-specific groups, religious leaning groups, and simply support groups. Some of the 12-Step recovery groups in Newark include:
- Alcoholics Anonymous: The AA Newark Ohio website provides a list of AA meetings all across Licking County each week.
- Narcotics Anonymous: The NA World Services Website currently lists 5 NA meetings in Newark each week.
- Cocaine Anonymous: The CA Ohio Area of Cocaine Anonymous website provides a list of all the CA meetings near Newark each week.
- Crystal Meth Anonymous: The CMA World Services website provides a meeting finder for meetings all across Ohio.
Aside from 12-Step meetings, there are also other recovery fellowships available. These include religious-based groups, spiritually-inspired meetings, and more scientific, trining-based recovery programs including:
- Celebrate Recovery: This Christian-focused recovery program currently has 5 groups meeting each week near Newark.
- Recovery Dharma: This is a Buddhism-inspired recovery group that currently has 2 meetings each week near Newark. They also have many online meetings each day.
- SMART Recovery: This is an acronym for Self Management And Recovery Training and this recovery fellowship currently has 6 meetings near Newark each week.
In addition to support groups for people recovering from addiction themselves, there are also support groups for the friends and families of people struggling with addiction. Having a loved one battling drug and alcohol use can be an extremely difficult and even traumatizing experience. Meeting others who have been through similar struggles can be a very healing experience. Some of these types of groups near Newark include:
- Al-Anon: This group is for the friends and families of people struggling with drugs or alcohol. The Central Ohio Al-Anon Family Groups website provides a meeting finder tool to find meetings near Newark.
- Nar-Anon: This group is for the friends or families of people who have struggled with drug addiction. Their website provides a meeting finder tool and currently lists 1 Nar-Anon meeting near Newark each week.
Need More Help? Recovery Is A Phone Call Away
Ohio Addiction Recovery Center offers free transportation to and from treatment, no matter where you are in Ohio! We offer medical detox, 30-day rehab, intensive outpatient treatment, and sober living in Central Ohio. When it comes to addiction treatment, you shouldn’t settle for just any treatment center. With our evidence-based model, individualized treatment plans, and state of the art facility, our program was voted the best addiction treatment center in Ohio by Newsweek.
We accept most insurance plans. If you are worried about work, school, or legal matters, our comprehensive case management team can help you navigate a path to recovery. If you think you’re ready for the next step, call us today at (800) 481-8457 to speak with a compassionate specialist.
800-481-8457