My Child’s Father Is an Addict

When we think the parent-child dynamic in the context of addiction, we almost always think about the parent at their wit’s end trying to get help for their addicted son or daughter. The reality is, however, that it’s often the parents of underage and adult children who struggle with addiction, and often wind up impacting their children for years to come as a result. Between alcohol addiction and the escalating opioid crisis affecting baby boomers and older seniors, addiction is a public health issue that doesn’t discriminate based on age.
If the father of your child is struggling with addiction, there is a whole other level of urgency you need to observe in your attempt to get them help in order to ensure the safety and long-term well-being of you and your child while getting your partner or co-parent a second chance at life in recovery. Data from the United States Department of Health and Human Services indicates parental alcohol or other drug use as a contributing factor for child removal increased from 18% to over 35% in the last 16 years. At the same time, while there is obviously no guarantee, a commonly cited body of research suggests that children of addicts are eight times as likely to become addicts themselves.
In order to break the cycle of addiction and protect you child from immediate harm, here are some steps you can take to get the father of your child the help they need.

Make Sure You and Your Child are Safe

You need to be able to help the father of your child from a position of strength and stability. The reality of addiction is that it puts both the addict and the people they love in dangerous situations, and very often jeopardizes their immediate health and safety. Before you can take steps to help your loved one, make sure your living situation is secure and that you and your child have somewhere to go in the event of escalation. Call a friend or family member, if necessary.

“Tough Love”: Consequence-Based Treatment Motivation

While it may seem initially harsh, sometimes the best thing you can do is show the addicted father of your child what can happen if they don’t get clean. Tell the father of your child as calmly and rationally as possible, without exercising judgment, that you simply can’t put your child at risk by allowing visitation until they get clean. It may be necessary to take legal action in this case. Courts may automatically intervene and mandate treatment, depending on the specific circumstances.

Some of the signs that the father of your child may have a drug problem can include:

• Increasing Irresponsibility Regarding Care (Forgetting about Important Events, Not Showing, Driving them around While, Etc.)
• Professional or Financial Problems (Job Loss, Spending Savings on Drugs, Etc.)
• Prolonged Periods of Absence or Isolation
• Erratic, Risky and Potentially Illegal Behavior
• Lying about Whereabouts and Other Things

If your child’s father is exhibiting these physical indicators or any behavioral signs of addiction, it’s time to get them help.

Engage Them Calmly and Rationally about Treatment

Before things escalate to the point of consequences; however, try talking to the addicted father of your child about the prospect of getting help for both themselves and your child. Offer to help them in their search for care. If they see that they have a partner in this endeavor, and that they can lean on you for support, they might be more receptive to entering treatment. Help can mean anything from assisting in their search for a treatment center by calling or going online to offering to help cover some of their treatment costs through your insurance if they aren’t adequately covered by their own plan. There is no blueprint for this, but as along you are willing to help, let them know.

Get Others Involved in their Treatment

Even though your child’s safety and emotional well-being may be tied to their father’s recovery, and you have a tremendous personal stake in their progress, this can’t be entirely up to you. Reach out to his family, close friends and other important people in his life to try and organize a meeting or intervention. An intervention should be led by an experienced, trained and qualified professional who can keep the process from becoming overtly emotional, assist with making treatment arrangements and help your group coordinate actual logistics of the meeting. It’s important to make treatment arrangements ahead of time to avoid any the pitfalls of any second thoughts your child’s father may have.

We’re Ready to Help Your Child Get His Father Back

The Ridge has helped thousands of co-parents just like you start to reconnect your family through comprehensive alcohol and drug addiction treatment. Whether you and your child’s father are married, separated or share parentage in any other model, your child deserves to have two parents who love, support and show up for them.

Contact our admissions representatives today at 513.613.4026 for a full insurance verification and to learn more about what The Ridge can do to help your loved one recover from addiction.

Resources:

• Child Welfare and Alcohol & Drug Use Statistics
• Familial Transmission of Substance Use Disorders
• Millennials and Baby Boomers Hardest Hit by Opioid Epidemic (drugfree.org)
• Aging And Addicted: The Opioid Epidemic Affects Older Adults, Too

Get To Know Darsey

What inspired you to become an addiction counselor?

When I was completing my bachelor’s degree I was working with adolescent girls. I had no desire to work in addictions until I had the opportunity to work on a residential treatment unit for dual diagnosis, active duty military. (Which is rather funny because now I have no desire to work with adolescent girls.) Through this experience, I developed a passion to work with addiction and decided to further my education in the field of addiction counseling. The many components of addiction counseling and watching change occur really helped me to decide that I wanted to be an addiction counselor.

What makes The Ridge unique?

The Ridge has hands down been my most favorite place to work. Our small team comes together in so many ways to provide top-quality care for clients. In recovery, clients need to develop a connection with their counselor and peers. The Ridge’s 16-bed capacity allows for clients to gain a sense of family which provides continued support beyond discharge. Our aftercare programming and Alumni events provide a further connection to those in recovery which gives hope for those early in recovery.

How does a person’s family help in recovery?

Family is crucial in recovery. Family helps to provide the client with the love, structure, and encouragement they need. As a family member, attending Al-anon is a MUST. Learning about how to handle situations and reduce enabling will contribute to your loved one’s recovery.

Do you have any books you recommend people in recovery read?

Anything Brené Brown. If you’re not a reader, she has a Ted Talk and Netflix video. I use a lot of her concepts (vulnerability especially) to apply to groups and individual sessions. She is very inspirational and relatable! This is not just for people in recovery either, this is for anyone!

How do you define success as a counselor?

To sum it up, giving it all you’ve got. Success looks so different from one person to the next. I also live by the motto that it’s all about progress, not perfection. Just because the day wasn’t perfect doesn’t mean you weren’t successful. You can learn from bad days, give it all you’ve got and not have any regrets about it.

What are 3 words your friends/family would use to describe you?

Determined, compassionate, and sassy. Directly from 2 of my best friends!

Talk about what “recovery” for a client means for you?

To me, recovery shouldn’t be viewed as easy. The recovery process is not just 30 days of treatment. It is rehabilitating your relationships, building a support network, challenging negative and addictive thoughts, making lifestyle changes and working a recovery program (AA/NA/Celebrate Recovery/SMART Recovery). Having someone fully engaged in the recovery process, seeing someone struggle and then they overcome those challenges is the most rewarding thing as a counselor. It means they’ve taken the tools and overcome something that they wouldn’t have done in the past.

Meet Kyle

What inspired you to become an addiction counselor?

My sobriety date is July 1, 2008. I believe I am still here to help others who have had a similar battle. I know how the mind and body are plagued by chemical dependency. I know what it does to the family structure and the impact it has on our loved ones. I spent a lot of time taking from others, now I only want to give.

What makes The Ridge unique?

We believe in each other and we believe in our clients. Our physicians have incredible amounts of knowledge and speak to clients and their family members in a way that is translatable to people who have no medical knowledge. They do not speak over the heads of our clients. The Ridge is a uniquely tailored program that forms around the client to treat the person as an individual and not a number.

How does your spiritual life fit in with your counseling approach?

Spirituality is defined as a connection. It fits into everything that I do at work and also in life. The counselors at the Ridge see clients individually but also in a group setting. This means we get to interact with, teach, learn from and connect with everyone in our program, not just the people on our caseloads.

Who has been a source of inspiration for you in your career as a counselor?

When I was given my first caseload as a new counselor (2015), I had the ability to learn from Kellie Luley. I sat in on the psychoeducational groups, individual sessions and family sessions she conducted as a shadow taking notes. I was able to see firsthand what a counselor role looked like as an observer. I believe we can find inspiration in all situations and circumstances if we are willing to look and listen. I also find insight through spiritual authors such as Eckhart Tolle, Paul Ferrini, Don Miguel Ruiz, Michael Singer, and others.

How do you define success as a counselor?

I believe success to be establishing rapport with a client. There is something that can’t quite describe hearing a client repeat what you’ve said to them in a group session. When a client believes you care for them and want the best for them, that is an achievement.

What are 3 words your friends/family would use to describe you?

I asked my family this question, the common theme was “compassionate, dedicated, loving.” 

Talk about what “recovery” for a client means for you?

Recovery is facing fears, rewriting limiting beliefs, being available to loved ones, challenging irrational thought patters, having difficult conversations, becoming open-minded, thinking before speaking, increasing spirituality/connection to God, self, and others, finding fulfillment, realizing purpose, being vulnerable and exposed, listening, giving, and rediscovering and redefining oneself.

Kyle Short has also authored a book. This book is titled, “I Am Enough”. Anyone who knows Kyle knows his compassionate, balanced, and mindful style. He uses what he has taught and learned in his recovery journey and years of working and volunteering with addicts in this book. He offers this book as a tool to help people see themselves for who they are, good, bad and in-between and take that knowledge and learn to love oneself and use that power to go through all obstacles in their lives positively. You can purchase his book on Amazon.

Caduceus Groups for Recovering Medical Professionals

What is a caduceus meeting or group?

A caduceus meeting or group is a support group for all medical professionals that have the desire to recover from chemical addictions using a 12-step approach. In these groups, impaired professionals can feel confident in sharing their stories with other folks who can relate to their experience. Medical professionals appreciate the peer to peer support of a caduceus meeting.

Who can attend a caduceus group?

Any healthcare professional who simply wants to recover or is in recovery from chemical addictions.

Are caduceus groups free?

Yes. Caduceus groups are designed in the spirit of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. There is no group fee or membership fee. However, donations may be requested to pay for the venue upkeep, or food and drink provided.

Are caduceus meetings 12-step based?

While caduceus groups were born out of the 12-step meeting format, they are not required to be 12-step based. They are often a less formal format than 12-step meetings and can be used as a transitional step toward becoming involved in AA or NA.

Are caduceus meetings required for impaired practitioner agreements?

Sometimes. Often an agreement with an oversight board or organization for a practitioner who has received treatment for drug or alcohol addiction will include the use of some type of support group to help with relapse prevention. The key component is usually an aftercare plan – not necessarily a specific group or model. So, a caduceus meeting could qualify as part of that aftercare plan, and therefore be a requirement.

Where can I find a caduceus group meeting?

Caduceus group meeting times and locations can be found by joining the International Doctors in Alcoholics Anonymous organization. The IDAA’s mission is to “carry the message of recovery to health care professionals and their families”. The Ridge is not affiliated with the IDAA and is providing this information for your convenience. The IDAA asks that you not share the caduceus meeting list publicly to respect the anonymity of the group chairs. Joining is free and registration requires you to enter your email and name. Once you join and verify your email address you can view a PDF list of caduceus group meetings, times and locations. Please follow this link to sign up: https://www.idaa.org/21/

Treatment for impaired practitioners

The Ridge is one of only three providers in Ohio eligible to perform all phases of treatment and evaluation for impaired practitioners under the Ohio “One Bite Rule”. This eligibility is offered to The Ridge by the Ohio Physicians Health Program and not others because of the type of programming, effective treatment, and highly credentialed staff at The Ridge. If you are a medical professional in need of a chemical dependency evaluation or residential treatment, The Ridge program is a perfect choice as we are approved to work with the various medical boards in the State of Ohio and have experience treating medical professionals while allowing those professionals to maintain their licensure.

Will Stonebraker – Residential Addiction Counselor

What inspired you to become an addiction counselor?

I have the soul of a storyteller. Addiction counseling has proven to be a setting where my soul has found its meaning and purpose in this life. Our stories make us who we are. We share our experience, strength, and hope because our stories bind us together. When we share our stories, we know each other. I think the sharing of our stories is the “We” in the first step of the 12-step program, (We admitted we were powerless over alcohol – that our lives had become unmanageable”). It is the essence of spirituality. Without “We” there is no spirituality. Without our stories, there is no “We.” Without “We” there is no defense against a disease that fragments and isolates human beings. Without the stories, the fire of possibility, the fire of life goes out.

How long have you been with The Ridge?

What an amazing honor it is to be a witness to the fire of life as it rekindles in the hearts of our residents and their families!! What a joy it is to join in the circle of healers and helpers who come here to lend their hearts to the work of restoring those caught in the web of addiction. I have had the privilege of hearing the stories of people beginning their passages into healing for seventeen years. The last two of those years have been at “the big white house on the hill.”

What is your favorite book/movie/podcast about recovery?

Some stories arrive in people, some in books. Some of my favorite books are

In The Realm of The Hungry Ghosts, Gabor Mate

“Not every story has a happy ending, … but the discoveries of science, the teachings of the heart, and the revelations of the soul all assure us that no human being is ever beyond redemption. The possibility of renewal exists so long as life exists. How to support that possibility in others and in ourselves is the ultimate question.”

Refuge Recovery, Noah Levine

“The greatest courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart.”

Moby Dick or The Whale, Herman Melville

“I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I’ll go to it laughing.”

Who has been a source of inspiration for you in your career as a counselor?

Though I find inspiration in the lives of those who share their stories and in books old and new, the greatest inspiration for me as an addiction counselor is my wife, Dawn Michelle. As a single mother, she raised four wonder-full human beings, returned to college later in life and earned a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree in Social work and serves as a midwife to people through the dying process as a hospice social worker. She is an aneurysm survivor who has gone through seven brain surgeries and embodies the quote from Moby Dick above. She is an agent of change and a vessel of hope. She inspires me with faith, love, and joy.

How do you define success as a counselor?

Taking my wife as my example, to be successful in my work means that I am able to touch others’ lives, to help them know they are not alone, and to impart some bit of joy or wisdom that will leave them better than before with a desire to continue on.

What are 3 words your friends/family would use to describe you?

I don’t know what three words my family and friends would use to describe me. Maybe funny, compassionate and willing.

Thank you for allowing me to share some of my story with you.

Understanding Insurance Coverage for Addiction Treatment Services

When searching for addiction treatment one of the first questions is: “How do I pay for treatment?” Fortunately, many treatment centers can utilize medical insurance to pay for some or all of the treatment episode. This coverage is protected by a law established in 2008, this law called The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Act. This law placed mental health and addiction treatment services on the same level as surgical, medical or other health benefits. The Parity Act as it has come to be known does not require insurance providers to cover addiction treatment or mental health treatment. What it does prohibit providers from is limiting benefits for addiction or mental health treatment in ways that they do not limit for physical medicine.

Additionally, the Affordable Care Act that was signed into law in 2010 requires insurance policies to offer substance abuse or mental health coverage in most cases.

In short, your insurance policy likely has some benefit for coverage of substance use or alcohol use disorders. Though the costs and levels of care still vary widely. These laws have made it somewhat easier to find a covered addiction treatment program but there are still wide variations in coverage, costs, and levels of care available.

Health insurance policies cover 6 basic classifications of care.

• Inpatient, in-network
• Inpatient, out-of-network
• Outpatient, in-network
• Outpatient, out-of-network
• Emergency care
• Prescription drugs

That means that if you have a policy that covers these categories for physical medical needs, it must also offer these benefits for addiction treatment or mental health. This does NOT mean that your policy must cover all of these benefits – just that they cannot cover them differently based on physical or mental health. For example – a health maintenance organization (HMO) policy excludes ALL out-of-network benefits. So, if the addiction treatment facility you are looking into is not in-network with your HMO policy, you will have to self-pay. There are other policy limitations that you will need to be aware of as well.

• Some policies require a referral from a doctor
• Some policies exclude higher levels of care such as inpatient or residential
• Some policies limit the number of days for higher levels of care
• And so on…

Most treatment centers make this easy for you by doing verification of benefits for your specific policy. They will tell you whether their service is covered and whether or not you will have co-pays or out of pocket expenses. It is usually best to call the treatment center and provide them with your insurance information as they will best be able to determine if their level of care and service is allowed under your health insurance policy.

The types of coverage you have available will depend on the type of plan you purchased. Plan types generally fall under 6 categories.

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO): is a type of plan that is in-network only. These networks are typically made up of a group of providers that limit medical care provided through doctors and agencies that are under contract to the HMO. HMO plans have in-network addiction, treatment providers. These are available by calling the number on the back of the card or by checking online. An addiction treatment provider will also know if they have a contract with a specific HMO insurer.

Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO): In the United States, an exclusive provider organization is a hybrid health insurance plan in which a primary care provider is not necessary, but health care providers must be seen within a predetermined network. Out-of-network care is not provided, and visits require pre-authorization.

Point Of Service (POS): A Point of Service Plan is a type of managed care plan that is a hybrid of HMO and PPO plans. IN a POS plan the patient must still use an in-network physician but can also go out of network for care. As long as the primary care physician has made a referral then the out of network care may be covered.

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO): a PPO plan typically has a network of physicians and facilities which are lower cost to use, but they also offer out of network benefits where you may choose the facility r provider but must pay a higher coinsurance, copay, or patient responsibility. These types of plans tend to be the most flexible when looking for specialized care or if you prefer a specific doctor or facility.

Medicare: Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people 65 years and older and certain people with disabilities that are under age 65. Medicare is essentially a large HMO and has no out of network benefits.

Medicaid: Medicaid is run by the state you reside in and is funded jointly by federal and state dollars. Medicaid assists low-income families or individuals in paying for medical needs, Coverage depends on the state you are in, and many states do offer addiction treatment as part of their Medicaid plans.

Thankfully due to the Parity Act and shifting public opinion on addiction as a disease and not a moral failing many insurance policies will be able to cover much of the costs associated with addiction treatment episodes.

When you decide to start looking for addiction treatment a good place to start is by understanding your insurance plan and what is and is not covered. Your insurer may be one place to start but they will certainly steer you in the direction of an in-network provider. If your plan allows, you have the right to choose an out of network facility and your insurance company won’t always know which facility is the best for your situation. Admitting addiction treatment is necessary is a huge step – so keep asking for help when searching for a provider. Ask your doctor, your friends, family or others who have had experience with addiction.

When you have narrowed your list of providers down give them each a call. Most providers have a person who specializes in insurance and billing and will walk you through the process. Their experience is invaluable.

Now that you understand what your medical plan can cover the real and exciting work begins. Now you can focus on healing and recovery for life!

Major League Baseball announced on Thursday, December 12, 2019, that it will begin screening for Opioids, Fentanyl, Cocaine and Synthetic THC, and other common drugs of abuse. While the MLB has for years tested for performance-enhancing substances, surprisingly it has not tested for illegal drugs of abuse unless a specific circumstance warranted it. The league will also enact educational programs on the dangers of opioid pain medications and practical approaches to marijuana. Additionally, the MLB has removed natural cannabis from its list of drugs of abuse and intends to treat marijuana under its existing alcohol-related policies.

The additional screening is in response to the tragic July 1 death of Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs. The screenings are intended to facilitate treatment not be punitive to players. The Ridge applauds this decision as it is well known that treatment works to combat addiction and save lives.

Today, @MLB and the @MLB_PLAYERS jointly announced significant changes to the Drug of Abuse provisions of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. pic.twitter.com/jIie1JDVAg

— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) December 12, 2019

Source: https://www.npr.org/2019/12/12/787550622/major-league-baseball-drops-marijuana-adds-opioids-cocaine-to-drugs-of-abuse-lis

This article is written by one of our guest bloggers, Amanda. Amanda is passionate about recovery and inspiring others to follow the path to recovery for life.

Have you ever thought or said, “I’m so scared of recovery”? If so, don’t worry you are completely normal. No matter how long you’ve been drinking or using, those substances have formed a habit in your life. When you feel depressed, you drink or use. When you feel confused about life, you drink or use. When you’ve just heard some great news, you drink or use to celebrate. Eventually, with every emotion that you’re able to feel, you now habitually reach for those substances.

One reason recovery seems so scary is because you have no clue how you will handle any situation, good or bad, without drugs or alcohol. It’s all you’ve known for so long. I’m sure you’ve heard the famous quote from Albert Einstein, “if you want different results, do not do the same things.” So, this means you will need to form new habits to replace the old because what you’ve been doing isn’t working. I know that you’re thinking this seems impossible. I promise you, it’s not impossible.

The key to creating long-lasting new habits in your life is to make small, achievable goals for yourself. Starting by setting daily goals that incorporate your mind, body, and soul is a great way to lay a solid foundation for a beautiful life.

Here are some examples:

• When I feel happy and/or sad today, I will take a walk to observe the nature around me.
• When I feel happy and/or sad today, I will read or listen to a book
• When I feel happy and/or sad today, I will do some form of exercise (run, bike, swim, etc.)
• When I feel happy and/or sad today, I will make someone else’s day a little brighter

You can insert any emotion and any action step into your own goals. When you achieve these small goals every single day, you are creating brand new habits in your life. You will begin to notice as the days turn into weeks and the weeks turn into months, you’ve been accomplishing these things without giving much thought to them. Another thing you will notice is that you did all this without putting drugs or alcohol in your body, which will give you the momentum to keep pressing forward through everything you’re faced with.

Friend, it’s okay to feel scared about recovery. Just remember to start small because you can always build on that. If you’re willing to put in the work, you will receive all the rewards!

Ohio’s Governor, Mike DeWine, is working to address the drug problem in the state, and he is asking for the help of the court system, treatment professionals, residents, and other organizations to help him accomplish his goals. Governor DeWine recently created the RecoveryOhio initiative to improve how the state addresses mental health and substance use disorders, including better treatment options, prevention campaigns, advocacy, and support services. Residents are finding out just how the new initiative can benefit their friends and loved ones who are addicted to drugs, particularly those who have been convicted of drug crimes.

Ohio’s Drug Epidemic

When Governor DeWine created the RecoveryOhio Initiative in January of this year, he stated that “Ohio is facing the worst drug epidemic in my lifetime and is losing 13 or 14 people a day from accidental drug overdoses. Every county in Ohio and every city, town, and village – urban and rural – are affected. The human toll, the increased crime, and the economic and societal damages caused by this epidemic are devastating; and the cost consequences of this epidemic reach every part of Ohio’s communities: schools, jails, businesses, health care, foster care and more. One study indicates the cost of the drug epidemic is nearly 9 billion dollars a year in Ohio.”

Drug use is terrorizing the state of Ohio, and many of those who have been convicted of drug possession are users who are addicted to the substance. The Ohio Public Defender’s office states that:

• 2,600 people in Ohio are currently in prison for drug possession
• 1 in 8 people in Ohio prisons is there on a drug possession charge
• 1,600 people are locked up for possessing drugs in amounts for personal use only

Better Access to Treatment

The answers to Ohio’s drug problem are better prevention and treatment options, as well as more coordinated care for those struggling with addiction. One of the main areas Governor DeWine hopes to focus on is the criminal justice system. According to recommendations by the RecoveryOhio Advisory Council, courts should have more options to redirect individuals charged with drug-related crimes into treatment programs instead of sending them straight to prison. Based on recidivism rates and court data, those who simply spend time behind bars for drug crimes are much more likely to go back to using as soon as they are released. Those that get help in the form of rehab and treatment, on the other hand, are better prepared to remain sober and stay clean even after their sentence is served.

In connection with the Governor’s Council, the Ohio House has passed House Bill 1, which would expand access to treatment programs for non-violent drug offenders rather than prison time. The Bill has experienced non-partisan support so far. “House Bill 1 gives these Ohioans a second chance to start over and have a real shot at reaching their fullest potential,” State Representative Stephanie Howse said during the discussion of the bill on the House floor.

Speaker Larry Householder agrees, “Our lawmakers have been working across the aisle to craft legislation that expands opportunities for all Ohioans,” said Householder. “This legislation is proof of that. I’m pleased that we will be able to help those overcoming addiction start a new life and become a productive member of society.” The bill is now headed to the Ohio Senate for further discussion and consideration. 

Additional Drug Courts Mean More Opportunities for Treatment

In order to ensure better access to drug treatment, Governor DeWine plans to seek additional funding in the 2020-2021 budgets to create 30 new specialty drug courts throughout the state. “Specialty dockets give judges the flexibility necessary when they encounter someone in the court system who is may benefit more from treatment for substance use disorder rather than serving jail time,” DeWine said. “These specialty courts are a proven way to hold those with substance use disorder accountable and ensure participation in mental health and addiction treatment.”

RecoveryOhio Advisory Council

In addition to recommending the addition of drug courts, the Governor’s Council issued more than 70 recommendations in the areas of stigma, parity, workforce development, prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery supports, and data and outcomes measurement.

Recommendations put forth by the Governor’s RecoveryOhio Advisory Council:

• Establish statewide prevention coordination with all state departments and agencies to ensure best practices, consistent messaging, technical assistance, and delivery of prevention services across multiple domains.
• Commission a statewide campaign to address stigma against people with mental illness and substance use disorders.
• Ensure that each patient’s needs and treatment recommendations are determined by a qualified clinical professional and promote insurance coverage of medically-necessary services identified by quality clinical care providers.
• Review and create a comprehensive plan for safe, affordable, and quality housing that will meet the needs of individuals with mental health and substance use disorders and would include supported housing options, transitional housing, recovery housing, adult care facilities, and short-term stabilization options.

“Far too many Ohioans have died and too many continue to struggle with mental health and substance use disorders. The recommendations, offered by the RecoveryOhio Advisory Council provide a framework for a new system of prevention, treatment, and support that we will work to implement,” said Governor DeWine. “Ohio should be a state that is a national model for prevention, offers top-notch treatment services, and supports recovery and well-being. Investing in streamlining and improving what we as a state are doing to prevent, treat, and encourage recovery, is truly an investment in Ohio’s future.”

The relationship between rising overdose rates and the opiate crisis.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), every day more than 130 people in the United States die after overdosing on opioids. This number has skyrocketed in the past five years, and many people blame the opiate crisis of the early 2000s for both the rise in addiction as well as the increase in opiate overdose deaths. When we look at the history of opiate misuse and addiction, we can see a little more clearly how the opiate crisis is related to the issue of addiction and overdose today.

History of Prescription Opiate Abuse

The misuse and abuse of prescription opiates began to take hold in the late 1990s. It was during this decade that pharmaceutical companies really began marketing their prescription painkillers, and many believe the manufacturers covered up the addictiveness of these medications in order to sell their product. The result was a huge spike in the prescribing of various opiate painkillers as more and more people found effective pain relief from the medications. What people didn’t know at that time was how addictive many of these opiates really were, and as the number of prescriptions increased, so did the number of those dependent on and addicted to the drugs.

The opiate epidemic created more addiction because individuals who had no history of drug abuse or addiction were now finding themselves dependent upon their medication. Because this had not been a problem before, there was a great deal of misunderstanding surrounding opiate addiction, and many people were ashamed and tried to hide their problem. The number of addicted people rose steadily, but this was not just among people who have legitimately prescribed prescription opiates. Individuals who had considered experimenting with drugs but were afraid to in the past were convinced to try prescription painkillers. The fact that the drugs could be prescribed by a doctor made them seem safer and more appealing to many.

Others began taking advantage of the opiate boom as well. Soon, individuals who abused other drugs began turning to prescription opiates because they were cheaper and easier to obtain than many street drugs. Our country was now experiencing an opiate epidemic that was being fueled by the overprescribing and under-monitoring of addictive medications. Some of these people were already suffering, but others were first-time drug abusers who either fell into dependency unknowingly or took advantage of inexpensive, easily obtainable drugs.

National statistics about the relationship between prescription opiate use and other drug abuse:

• Roughly 21 to 29 percent of patients prescribed opioids for chronic pain misuse them, and between 8 and 12 percent develop an opioid use disorder (NIDA).
• An estimated 4 to 6 percent who misuse prescription opioids transition to heroin (NIDA).
• Four in five new heroin users started out misusing prescription painkillers (NIH). 
• It is estimated that 23% of individuals who use heroin develop opioid addiction (NIDA). 
• 75% of those who began their opioid abuse in the 2000s reported that their first regular opioid was a prescription drug (JAMA Psychiatry). 
• 94% of respondents in a 2014 survey of people in treatment for opioid addiction said they chose to use heroin because prescription opioids were “far more expensive and harder to obtain” (JAMA Psychiatry). 

The Rise in Overdose Deaths

The opiate epidemic certainly increased the number of overdose deaths as well. In the early years of the opiate crisis there were relatively few overdose deaths, but this number has steadily grown since the 1990s.

One reason for the rise in overdose deaths is the lack of understanding of opiates. Some people consider prescription painkillers to be harmless, and they don’t realize how easy it is to overdose. Other people don’t understand the strength of the drugs they are experimenting with; for example, fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, and carfentanil is a medication designed for large animals and is extremely potent. Still, other opiates are purchased from unreliable sources and the user can’t be sure of the ingredients or strength, yet they use the drugs anyway.

According to the NIDA:

• Drug overdose deaths rose from 8,048 in 1999 to 47,600 in 2017.
• Opioid overdoses increased 30 percent from July 2016 through September 2017 in 52 areas in 45 states.
• The Midwestern region saw opioid overdoses increase 70 percent from July 2016 through September 2017.
• Opioid overdoses in large cities increase by 54 percent in 16 states.

Today, people from all walks of life are finding themselves trying and becoming dependent upon prescription painkillers, and then transitioning to street drugs like heroin or even harder drugs like fentanyl and carfentanil.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that some of the greatest increases in heroin use have occurred in demographic groups with historically low rates of heroin use: women, the privately insured, and people with higher incomes. In particular, heroin use has more than doubled in the past decade among young adults aged 18 to 25 years. It is estimated that the total “economic burden” of prescription opioid misuse alone in the United States is $78.5 billion a year, including the costs of healthcare, lost productivity, addiction treatment, and criminal justice involvement.

Solving the Opiate Addiction Problem

The opiate epidemic continues to be a problem in communities throughout the country, but municipalities, law enforcement, healthcare providers, schools, and other groups are working to educate the public about the dangers of opiate abuse and find solutions to this issue. Prevention is key to keeping this problem from growing, and treatment is necessary to help those already struggling with addiction.