Drug addiction is a disease. It affects a person physically, emotionally and financially. If left untreated, addiction can lead to legal problems, loss of work, family problems and social isolation. The answer is rehabilitation. If you are a chronic or long-term drug user, you will need detoxification. You will also need counseling. US Rehab Network understands what you are going through, as we have helped thousands of people get started in treatment.
The rehabilitation process is individualized, based on what each person needs. At a higher level, the four steps of this process are:
Assessment – Beginning the first contact with a counselor, team of doctors, therapists and mental health workers who develop a unique treatment plan for you. These assessments continue during the intake process, where the professionals make an evaluation of your problem and devise your therapy plan.
Detoxification – Called detox, you can start the rehabilitation process to rid the body of harmful drugs. The detox process is dangerous if you don’t have properly trained healthcare professionals monitoring you. The nurses will give you medication so the withdrawal symptoms are to a minimum.
Rehabilitation – Called rehab, this involves healing. The therapist and counselors work with you to get to the core issues that fuel your addiction. This involves individual and group counseling, cognitive-behavior therapy and vocational training.
Aftercare – Once you are through with rehab, you must follow-up with trained professionals to continue your therapy. This is vital for remaining sober during recovery.
Indiana is a Midwestern state that is part of the Great Lakes region of North America. Indiana’s capital is Indianapolis, which is the state’s largest city. Admitted to the Union as the 19th state in 1816, Indiana has grown in culture, economy and population since the 19th century. The state’s north region was primarily settled by people from New York and New England. Migrants from mid-Atlantic states and southern states also populated Indiana.
The diverse economy of Indiana has a gross state product of $298 billion in 2012. There are many sports teams and athletic events in Indiana, such as the Indiana Pacers, the Indianapolis Colts, the Indy 500 and Brickyard 400 Motorsports Races. Around 6.6 million people reside in the entire state and there are 181 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the state includes 87% white, 9.5% African-American, 2% Asian, 1.5% biracial/multi-racial and 6% Hispanic/Latino.
According to the Center for Health Policy, alcohol is the most frequently used substance in the state of Indiana. Among residents aged 12 and older, 52% reported that they drank alcohol during the last 30 days. Young people had the highest rates of alcohol use in Indiana, with 60% reporting current alcohol use. Another 41% said they engaged in binge drinking. Underage drinking is also a problem, with 33% of high school students admitting to consuming alcohol during the past month.
Based on the report from the Center for Health Policy, from 2000 to 2012, 4,759 people died from alcohol-induced causes. Additionally, in 2013, 8,159 alcohol-related collisions occurred in the state of Indiana. Around 5.6% of Indiana youth ages 12 to 17 admitted to cocaine use during the last 12 months. Of the admissions to rehab centers, 14% were due to cocaine in 2000 but that decreased to 7% in 2012. Heroin is on the rise in the state, with 3% of high school students reporting using it at least once during their lives. Additionally, IN had 1,600 arrests related to possession of opiates or cocaine in 2012.
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the largest city in Indiana and it is the county seat of Marion County. Located in the northeast central region of the U.S., Indianapolis has a population of 853,000. It was founded in 1821 and was platted by Alexander Ralston and Elias Fordham on a mere 1-square-mile grid of land adjacent to the White River. After completion of the National Road, the city began to grow. The city is within a single day’s drive to 70% of the nation, lending it the nickname “Crossroads of America.” Many cultural institutions are located in Indianapolis, such as the Children’s Museum, the Indiana Landmarks and the Indianapolis Zoo. A study from the Indiana University School of Public Health found that addiction rates of opioid users are critical in the state and many fatalities have occurred here. WishTV reported that Indiana was 15th in the U.S. for drug overdose fatalities. The study also found that the epidemic and problem could affect the state’s economic growth potential.
Fort Wayne
The county seat of Allen County Indiana is Fort Wayne. This city is 18 miles west of the Ohio border and 50 miles south of Michigan. Around 260,000 people call this city home. During the Revolutionary War, statesman Anthony Wayne directed the building of Fort Wayne, which was a series of forts near the Miami tribe village. Named in Wayne’s honor, many European immigrants settled here. The town was platted in 1823 and underwent much growth after the Wabash and Erie Canal was completed. According to the Drug and Alcohol Consortium of Allen County, Fort Wayne has a drug and alcohol epidemic. Around 29% of high school seniors admitted to binge drinking during the last year. In addition, another 10% reported frequent drinking. The consequences of alcohol abuse are injurious to young brains that have not finished developing. In Allen County, there were 88 alcohol-induced deaths from 2001 to 2005 alone and many of the victims were under-aged.
Evansville
A city in Vanderburgh County, Evansville, has 118,000 people. Located in southern Indiana, this city is the medical, commercial, and cultural hub of the state’s southwestern region. Situated on an oxbow in the Ohio River, Evansville, IN is often called the “Crescent Valley.” The area was inhabited by various cultures dating back 10,000 years, with Angel Mounds being a permanent settlement of the Mississippian culture from 1000 AD to 1400 AD. Evansville has a broad economic base with four NYSE companies headquartered here (Berry Plastics, Accuride, Vectren and Springleaf). The average family size is 2.91, and the city is 82% white. A report by the Southern District of the Department of Justice cites Evansville as a recent area of various drug trafficking organizations. The Drug Enforcement Administration Evansville Drug Task Force and the local Police Department worked with other agencies to combat drug dealing and violence. During the 2016 investigation, 23 pounds of methamphetamine, 10 pounds of marijuana, 11 firearms and several thousand ecstasy pills were seized.
South Bend
A city and county seat of St. Joseph County, South Bend Indiana has around 101,000 residents. The city is located near the St. Joseph River’s southernmost bend, which is where the name “South Bend” is derived. Just north of South Bend is the University of Notre Dame, which helps generate part of the city’s economy. Originally settled in the early 1800s by fur traders, South Bend was established as a city in 1865. The population peaked in 1960 at 132,445, then declined slowly. Today, the largest industries are education, small business, health care and tourism. Notable employers are the Memorial Health System, South Bend Community School Corporation, Martin’s Super Markets, AM General, Beacon Medical Group, Crowe Horwath and Schurz Communications. According to an NBC News brief, South Bend has seen an HIV “epidemic” fueled by needle-sharing opiate addicts. Mike Pence visited the area and declared a public health emergency in 2016, after 72 people were infected. Heroin is being used by many who started out taking prescription pain killers.
Carmel
Carmel is a suburban city located in Hamilton County, Indiana. The city is immediately north of Indianapolis and is one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. In 2012, CNN Money magazine cited Carmel as one of the Best Places to Live in the U.S. Today, 86,000 people reside in Carmel. IN. Originally called Bethlehem, the city was platted in 1837. Quakers were the original settlers and the town was renamed Carmel in 1846. Today, the racial makeup of Carmel is 85% white, 3% African-American, 9% Asian, 2.5% Latino, and the remaining 1% “other”. The average family size in the city is 3.17. The Carmel Police Department and Boone County Drug Task Force report a heroin increase in 2008. The drug epidemic continues to threaten the stability of the community. Former pain patients are now turning to heroin, which is more affordable than pills. According to Current in Carmel, law enforcement officers have seen a drop by 50% in the price of heroin over the last 3-4 years. This is attributed to the trafficking of heroin from Mexico via cartels and gangs.
Bloomington
The county seat of Monroe County Indiana is Bloomington, which is located in the southern part of the state. Bloomington is known as the “Gateway to Scenic Southern Indiana.” Established as a city in 1818 by a group of southern settlers, the group was so impressed by a “haven of blooms” that they called the area Bloomington. Approximately 84,000 people live in this city, which is an increase of 4,000 since 2010. Home to the Indiana University Bloomington, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University Maurer School of Law, Indianan University School for Informatics, and the Indiana University School of Education, the town is known as a college city. The average family size is 2.76, with 17% of homes having children under age 18 in them. In 2013, Trust for America’s Health showed that Indiana had the 17th highest overdose mortality rate in the U.S. The rate for Indiana is 14.4 per 100,000 persons. The majority of overdose deaths in the state of IN are from prescription drugs with the rate quadrupling since 1999.
Hammond
Hammond, Indiana is in Lake County, and considered part of the Chicago Metropolitan region. With a population of 81,000, Hammond within the boundaries of Lake Chicago, and has a layer of black topsoil that is several inches thick. Other waterways include Lake George, Grand Calumet River, Little Calumet River, Lake Michigan and Wolf Lake. The racial makeup of Hammond is 60% white, 23% African-American, 1% Asian and 16% “other” or “two or more races.” The median age is 33.3 years and 27.6% of residents are age 18 or younger. According to the Journal Gazette, nearly $1 million has been awarded to the state of Indiana to fight the abuse and distribution of opioids and methamphetamine. The increase in money is due to the rise in drug-related death rates in Indiana cities like Hammond. In 2014 alone, there were 462 opioid-related deaths, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Gary
In Gary, IN, 81,000 people reside. Located 25 miles from downtown Chicago, Illinois, Gary is in Lake County. The city of Gary is adjacent to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and it borders Lake Michigan. Known for large steel mills, Gary is known as the birthplace of the Jackson 5 music group. Several sports franchises are based in the city, such as the Gary SouthShore RailCats (American Association professional baseball team) and the Gary Splash (International Basketball League). The Indiana Economics Digest reports there has been 38 homicides in the first half of 2015 alone, which is a 58% increase from 2014. Going along with the murder rates in Chicago, IL, Gary, IN also has a serious drug problem. Police estimate that 60% of the year’s homicides were drug-related.
Lafayette
In Lafayette, the county seat of Tippecanoe County Indiana, 67,000 people reside. The city is northwest of Indianapolis and southeast of Chicago. Of the 67,000 households, 29% of homes have children in them. Additionally, the average family size is 3. The economy of Lafayette and the surrounding region is centered around academic and industrial activities of Purdue University. The gender makeup is 49 men to 51 women. In the city, private industries include Subaru of Indiana, Wabash National, Caterpillar, Alcoa, Evonik and Tate & Lyle. WFLI discussed the prescription painkiller problem in Tippecanoe County, while heroin and cocaine are still as prevalent as ever. A local doctor reports that personal responsibility and accountability are the key ways to prevent drug abuse. Additionally, in this county alone, there were 5 overdose deaths in one week which were all due to heroin.
Center for Health Policy (2015). Substance Abuse in Indiana. Retrieved from: https://www.healthpolicy.iupui.edu/PubsPDFs/2014%20Drug%20Fact%20Sheets.pdf
Current in Carmel (2014). Even here: Heroin use growing in Carmel. Retrieved from:http://currentincarmel.com/even-here
Drug and Alcohol Consortium of Allen County (2008). The Consumption and Consequences of Alcohol and Drugs in Allen County: A County Epidemiological Profile 2008. Retrieved from: http://www.healthpolicy.iupui.edu/PubsPDFs/Allen%20County%20Epi.pdf
Indiana Economic Digest (2015). Homicides up, overall crime down in Gary. Retrieved from: http://indianaeconomicdigest.com/Main.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=61&ArticleID=80993
Journal Gazette (2016). State gets grant to fight meth and opioids. Retrieved from: http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/indiana/State-gets-grant-to-fight-meth–opioids-15402036
NBC News (2015). HIV Epidemic Triggered by Needle-Sharing in Scott County Indiana. Retrieved from: http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/indiana-hiv-epidemic-n330206
Southern District of Indiana Department of Justice (2016). Seventeen federally indicted in Evansville drug case. Retrieved from: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/pr/seventeen-federally-indicted-evansville-drug-case
Trust for America’s Health (2013). Indiana has the 17th Highest Drug Overdose Mortality Rate in the United States. Retrieved from: http://www.healthyamericans.org/reports/drugabuse2013/release.php?stateid=IN
WFLI (2014). Painkiller epidemic raising drug death toll. Retrieved from: http://wlfi.com/2014/07/30/painkiller-epidemic-raising-drug-death-toll/
WishTV (2016). Study examines how much drug and tobacco use is costing Indiana. Retrieved from: http://wishtv.com/2016/09/09/study-examines-how-much-drug-and-tobacco-use-is-costing-indiana/