Toledo is a large city in northwestern Ohio that currently has just over 276,000 residents. It is the seat of Lucas County and is nestled against the Ohio-Michigan border along Lake Erie. With its proximity to Canada and its location along Lake Erie, Toledo has been a major nexus of drug use and drug trafficking in recent decades. This is especially so ever since the opioid epidemic began, and the situation is very dire within the city of Toledo and the surrounding areas. That being said, there is still hope for recovery if someone is trying to change their life. Entering a Toledo drug and alcohol rehab center can provide someone with the tools, support, and opportunities to break free from addiction, and build a new life for themselves.
Substance Abuse In Toledo
Toledo, similar to most of Ohio, has been hit especially hard due to the opioid epidemic. Other than opioids, Toledo has also seen a drastic rise in other types of drugs in recent years, including drugs that were not historically prone to abuse. Some of the most widely available drugs in Toledo include crystal meth, heroin, cocaine, crack, marijuana, synthetic cannabinoids, and benzodiazepines. In particular, crystal meth and marijuana have increased in availability over the last few years, and there have been reports of fentanyl being used as a cutting agent in cocaine, which is unusual for cocaine in the area. Due in large part to the Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System, the presence of prescription opioids, with the exception of Suboxone, has decreased significantly in and around Toledo in recent years.
A common trend in Toledo that is very concerning is the increased presence of fentanyl in heroin seized by law enforcement in the area. There have been some samples that are almost entirely fentanyl, with very little actual heroin present. This is troubling since fentanyl is much more potent than heroin and can easily lead to overdoses. When fentanyl levels remain constant, this may not be much of an issue, but the increase in the fentanyl-to-heroin ratio may lead to many more overdose deaths over the coming months or years. This is a very dangerous time for drug users in the city, and entering a Toledo rehab center may not only help someone recover from their addiction, but it may save their life.
Drug trafficking has been and continues to be a major issue in Toledo. Due in part to its location along Lake Erie, proximity to Canada, and situated at the intersection of two major interstates, I-90 and I-75, Toledo is a hotspot for drugs entering and moving across the country. There have been several high-profile arrests by law enforcement recently that can attest to this. In early January of 2021, two people were arrested with 4.5 kilograms (9.9 pounds) of meth, 1.5 ounces of fentanyl, and 50 pounds of marijuana. Another arrest in early January led to the discovery of a meth lab in east Toledo. Finally, in December of 2020, a yearlong investigation that included multiple law enforcement agencies in an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation led to the indictments of 24 people on drug trafficking charges that included the distribution of fentanyl, crack, and powdered cocaine.
Toledo’s Response To Substance Abuse
Toledo has seen a dramatic rise in overdose deaths over the last few years, due in part to the increased amounts of fentanyl in drugs, along with other, less clear factors. In 2017, the average rate of overdose deaths in Lucas County was 28.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, but by 2019 this had climbed to 38.3 overdose deaths per 100,00 residents. While the drug problem is severe in Toledo, and it is worsening, the city and surrounding communities have been very agile in their response to the problems faced in Toledo. There is a wide range of government, community, and non-profit organizations that have stepped up to offer help to people struggling with addiction in Toledo.
Just a few of these helpful drug and alcohol addiction recovery resources include:
- Mental Health & Recovery Services Board of Lucas County: A community service organization that helps people struggling with addiction or mental health issues find the treatment and recovery services they need.
- Rescue Mental Health & Addiction Services: A state-funded addiction treatment center, they provide a 24-hour crisis line at 419-255-3125.
- Drug Addiction Response Team – Lucas County Sheriff: Initially an overdose prevention and first responder unit, the DART unit has evolved into a team that will help people struggling with addiction find affordable and effective treatment in their community. Their non-emergency number is 419-213-6582.
- Harbor: A non-profit addiction treatment and mental health center, they have 4 locations across Toledo.
- New Concepts: A peer-led addiction treatment non-profit organization, they provide outpatient services to people struggling with addiction in Toledo and Lucas County.
- UMADAOP – Lucas County: An acronym for Urban Minority Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Outreach Program, this program provides prevention, treatment, and support services to people struggling with addiction in Lucas County.
- NAMI Greater Toledo: The National Alliance on Mental Illness’ Toledo chapter provides resources for mental health and addiction issues, and can help connect someone with the support and care they need.
- Zepf Center: This organization provides a variety of substance abuse treatment and behavioral health services to adolescents and adults in Lucas and Wood counties.
Drug and Alcohol Detox & Rehab In Toledo
While withdrawal from some drugs is merely uncomfortable, withdrawal from others can be very dangerous and sometimes even fatal. Quitting drugs is a difficult and risky venture, although with help from Ohio Addiction Recovery Center the detox process can be completed with minimal risks and minimal discomfort. Once detox has been safely completed, someone will be able to begin drug rehab in Toledo and start walking the road to recovery. It is possible to live a life free from drugs and alcohol, but it often takes help. We use the most effective therapeutic treatments to give out clients as much support and as many tools as possible to overcome their addiction and find a new way of life.
Addiction Recovery In Toledo
During the time at our drug and alcohol rehab in Toledo, our goal is to help our clients improve and grow their recovery once they return to their lives. To this end, we help our clients make new connections and friends in local recovery communities. Nobody can stay sober all on their own, and building new relationships is crucial to a healthy recovery. There are many different recovery fellowships, some similar and some very different. It can be helpful for someone to find a group they can relate to, and there are some drug-specific recovery fellowships that may be a good place to start. Some of these recovery fellowships include:
- Alcoholics Anonymous: Find an AA meeting in Toledo or nearby areas using their meeting finder. They currently have dozens of meetings every day of the week.
- Narcotics Anonymous: Find an NA meeting in Toledo or nearby communities through their meeting locator tool. They currently have 21 NA meetings listed in Toledo.
- Cocaine Anonymous: CA meetings in Toledo and nearby areas using their meeting directory. There are currently over a dozen CA meetings in the city of Toledo.
- Heroin Anonymous: Find an HA meeting near you in Toledo using their meeting guide. They currently have 7 meetings listed per week in the city.
Aside from the more traditional, 12-step programs that we have listed above, there are newer recovery fellowships as well. Some of these may be religiously-oriented, while others are a form of self-help. Everyone has a different journey of recovery, and some people may prefer one recovery fellowship over another. Some of these newer recovery fellowships include:
- SMART Recovery: Self-Management And Recovery Training, this fellowship currently has 1 meeting in Toledo, although there are many dozens of meetings online.
- Celebrate Recovery: A Christian-focused recovery fellowship, they currently have 6 meetings per week in Toledo.
- Recovery Dharma: A Buddhist-oriented recovery fellowship, they currently have no in-person meetings in Toledo although there are many virtual meetings any time of the day, from all over the country.
In addition to meetings and fellowships for someone who is recovering from addiction themselves, there are also meetings and communities for the friends and families of people struggling with addiction. These fellowships can be extremely helpful for someone who has seen a loved one struggle, as someone can find fellowship and benefit from the past experiences of others. Some of these fellowships include:
- Al-Anon: A fellowship for the friends and family of people struggling with alcoholism, this fellowship has several dozen meetings in Toledo or nearby areas every week.
- Nar-Anon: A support groups for the friends or family of someone who has struggled with an addiction to narcotics, they currently have 3 meetings per week in Toledo.
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