Addiction Recovery Resources

Alcohol affects people from all walks of life regardless of socioeconomic standing, culture, ethnicity, or any other differentiating factors

According to NIDA’s (National Institute on Drug Abuse) 2022 IC Fact Sheet:

• 20.4 million people had been diagnosed with a substance use disorder (SUD) within the past year of the reporting period
• Only 10.3% of them ever received treatment
• Approximately 71,000 people had died of drug overdose in 2019

While there have been may efforts to help fight the opioid epidemic as well as destigmatize seeking treatment, there is much more work to be done. The Redemption Recovery team is dedicated to providing evidence-based addiction treatment in Ohio.

Overall, substance abuse disorders are complex and comorbidities as well as co-occurring disorders are often present. Drug and alcohol are a widespread issue n the world, especially the Western world.

Opioid Addiction

pioids are a class of drugs that are often used for pain relief. They bind to specific receptors in the brain and spinal cord, reducing pain perception. Opioids can be prescribed by doctors for short-term use after surgery or injury or long-term use in cases of chronic pain. Common pharmaceutical opioids include morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and fentanyl.

The most common illegal opioid is heroin, however, illegal production of the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl has skyrocketed since around 2015. All opioids, prescribed or otherwise, are highly addictive and dangerous if misused or abused. They can cause respiratory depression, sedation, and death in high doses or when mixed with other drugs.

Most people require treatment for opioid addiction to stop the cycle of use and safely regain control of their lives and their health.

Learn more about opioid addiction in Ohio.

Alcohol addiction

Alcohol is one of the most commonly consumed substances in the United States alongside tobacco. Alcohol is addictive for a number of reasons. Like other addictive drugs, alcohol affects the brain’s reward center by increasing the levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is associated with pleasure and reward. The surge in dopamine creates a temporary feeling of euphoria or high, which can be highly reinforcing and lead to repeated alcohol use.

Alcohol can produce feelings of relaxation and reduce anxiety. This quality can make it an appealing coping mechanism for people struggling with stress or emotional pain. Drinking alcohol usually begins innocently enough. People drink little alcohol, perhaps with a meal. People may drink socially. Social drinking may help some people overcome shyness or social anxiety. Perhaps the most difficult thing about alcohol addiction may be it’s widespread adoption and lack of stigma associated with its use. For this reason, alcohol addiction can emerge at any time even in individuals who have a history of moderated casual use.

Learn more about alcohol addiction in Ohio.

Cocaine Addiction

Originating from the coca leaves in South America, cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant that first gained public awareness in the United States in the early 1900s where it was an ingredient in a wide variety of products such as tonics, elixirs, and more solutions. Cocaine was used for its numbing properties as well since at the time, no other local anesthetics as powerful were known.

Cocaine was a front and center part of drug culture and pop-culture in the 1980s and 1990s and today also is a common drug of use. Cocaine addiction is a serious problem and both short-term cocaine use as well long-term use carry health risks such as the increased likelihood of experiencing a cardiac event and/or addiction to the substance. Changes in brain function and chemistry have been observed those who repeatedly use cocaine.

Benzo Addiction in Ohio

Benzodiazepines are controlled substances in the U.S. due to their addictive properties. Benzo addiction is a serious problem in the United States in particular. Benzodiazepines are one of only three categories of drugs that have potentially fatal withdrawal symptoms. The other two are alcohol and barbiturates.

When a person is physically addicted to benzos, alcohol, or barbiturates, it can be very dangerous to abruptly stop using them. The mental withdrawal symptoms are extremely unpleasant – but it is the physical withdrawal symptoms that are dangerous and potentially fatal in extreme circumstances.

Learn more about Benzo addiction in Ohio.

Adderall and Prescription Amphetamines

Prescription amphetamines like Adderall are addictive. Thousands of Americans enter drug and alcohol treatment every year to overcome a substance use disorder related to stimulant medicines like these. Treatment options include partial hospitalization programs (PHP) and outpatient rehab, among others.

Learn more about prescription amphetamines and Adderall addiction.

Methamphetamine Addiction

Methamphetamines, or colloquially known as “meth” or “crystal meth”, are a psychostimulant drug that affects the nervous system and brain by providing a “speed” like effect. Speed, zoom, crank, tweak, and more names are given to this drug based on this effect.

The addictiveness of meth cannot be understated and it has been the cause of many substance use disorders, overdose deaths, and more. This addictiveness is due to the effects of meth, which upon use, flood the brain with dopamine and consequently intense feelings of euphoria.

Crystal Meth Addiction

Crystal methamphetamine or just “meth” is an illegally manufactured amphetamine. Like all amphetamines, legal or illegal it is a potent and highly addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system. It is most commonly seen as a crystalline whitish powder or in pieces of semi-translucent crystal sometimes called ‘shards’.

Crystal meth addiction is a harrowing experience for millions of people, regardless of how they choose to consume the drug. Dependence sets in early and the drug often takes a frightening grip on its users. Meth is usually consumed in one of three ways, smoking, injecting (as a solution) or snorting. Much less common is swallowing or ingestion.

Learn more about Crystal Meth and Meth Addiction in Ohio.