Akron is one of the largest cities in the state of Ohio — the 5th largest, to be exact. Resting about a 30-minute drive south of Cleveland, the city of Akron has historically been known as a manufacturing powerhouse. More specifically, Akron became one of the largest and most well-known rubber producers in the world. However, Akron, Ohio offers far more than just industrial work for locals. In fact, it is a beautiful city that attracts thousands of visitors every year.

Akron, Ohio has frequently served as the setting or backdrop for various television series and films. The historic buildings and streets, as well as the mixture of big-town amenities with small-town culture, have made it an idealized vision of urban America. Unfortunately, not everything in Akron is as perfect as it appears on TV. The growing tide of drug and alcohol addiction sweeping the nation has also hit Akron hard, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Like Cleveland, Akron is home to a relatively young and highly diverse population. Sadly, addiction can strike people of any age or ethnicity, so the growing problems of alcohol and prescription drug abuse have continued to grow. Additionally, the size of Akron has also led to various street illicit street drugs becoming commonplace, making it even harder for addicts to escape temptation and completely recover. Fortunately, there is hope. If you’re looking for a drug rehab facility with inpatient and outpatient services, counseling, detox, and dual diagnosis treatment near Akron, Ohio, then Prosperity Haven is just a 30-minute drive or a short phone call away.

It is important to note that the drug and alcohol abuse in Akron and the rest of Ohio is a complex issue. You may want to help yourself or someone you love overcome addiction, but it is also a good idea to understand exactly how drug and alcohol abuse have affected (and continue to affect) the city of Akron. In today’s guide, we will cover some of the latest drug abuse statistics in Akron, as well as programs utilized to combat the crisis. Additionally, we will discuss some of the most pressing issues faced by people dealing with drug or alcohol addiction in Akron, Ohio.

The Drug Addiction Crisis in Akron

The area currently known as Akron was first settled by European Americans in the early 19th century. Businessmen saw the highpoint of Akron as a great base of operations for work on the nearby Ohio and Erie Canal. Despite a long history of commercial and industrial development, Akron is perhaps best known for being the birthplace of the K-12 education system, as well as the Alcoholics Anonymous program.

More recently, the city’s labor force shifted away from rubber production and toward polymer research. This has allowed the city’s economy to flourish and withstand the difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the difficulties of changing industrial interests. One of the primary downsides of being a manufacturing city is that Akron has relatively low ratings for both air and water pollution. Otherwise, the city has done well to maintain a happy populace and a strong economy.

Though Akron has seen fiscal success throughout the 20th and early 21st centuries, the population has remained relatively stagnant. As of 2019, Akron had roughly 198,000 full-time residents. This represented a slight decrease from the 2011 census, when Akron, Ohio had just over 201,000 residents. There are various factors that have contributed to the stagnant population, with the increasing prevalence of drug abuse among them.

Akron is the seat of Summit County, which saw a 277% increase in drug overdose deaths between 2009 and 2016. [1] Those numbers have continued to grow in more recent years. For example, in 2020, the city of Akron had a total of 182 drug overdose deaths. Though data since the pandemic is still forthcoming, there is every indication that the numbers are rising rapidly due to increased stress and high unemployment. Opioids and Fentanyl have been the two most common and deadly drugs among addicts in Akron, Ohio over the past decade. [2]

Akron Drug and Alcohol Abuse Vs. the Rest of Ohio

Even though the population has declined slightly over the past few years, the city of Akron, Ohio saw a rise in drug-related deaths (as noted in the statistics above). According to local news reports, morticians recorded an increase in drug-related deaths of roughly 140% between 2020 and 2021. [3] Alcohol is also one of the largest contributors to addiction in the region, though it has caused fewer overdose-related deaths than opioids and Fentanyl.

That said, Akron is still better off than many of the larger districts and cities in the state of Ohio. For example, the average annual number of overdose deaths in Akron was 182 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with an average death rate of 10%. This is extremely low when compared to some other cities like Cincinnati, which maintained an average death rate of about 30% during the same time period.

On the other hand, there are many small townships in Ohio that have far lower drug-related death rates, thanks in large part to low crime rates, government intervention programs, and easy access to medical facilities. For example, cities like Wakaponeta and Ashland have recorded overdose death rates as low as 2% and 7%, respectively. Other factors have also contributed to the large variations in death rates from one town, county, or city to another. Factors like poverty and age demographics also impact the number of overdoses and the percentage of drug-related deaths.

In short, Akron has been surprisingly lucky when compared to other major metropolitan areas in the state of Ohio. Though the overdose and drug-related death rates continue to rise, the numbers are still lower than in most other cities in Ohio. The truth is that Akron is a lot like many other mid-sized cities in the United States. It has worked to combat drug and alcohol abuse, but various factors have still made it difficult for many residents to overcome their addictions.

Substance Abuse Treatment & Prevention in Akron

There are various drug rehab facilities in the larger Akron area, but the Summit County government also offers its own programs to help combat the rise of drug and alcohol abuse. For example, the ADM Board of Summit County developed the Opiate & Addiction Task Force in recent years. This group meets every quarter to evaluate the latest data and news related to drug abuse in the county. In doing so, they can develop more effective strategies to combat addiction and reduce unnecessary deaths. [4] Akron residents are also assisted by Ohio’s Project DAWN, a program that helps distribute naloxone kits and other life-saving treatments to people suffering from opioid addiction. [5]

Akron, Ohio Addiction Statistics

Thus far, we have covered some of the broader facts concerning the drug and alcohol crisis in Akron. However, it is important to look at the hard statistics as well. This is the only way to see an accurate picture of how the city is faring compared to years past (as well as other cities throughout Ohio and the rest of the country). So, here are a few of the latest and most relevant findings in Akron, Ohio as of 2020:

• Annual Overdoses: 1,821
• Cause of Overdose
  • Unspecified Substances: 52%
  • Illicit Substances: 16%
  • Prescription Drugs: 32%
• Annual Drug-Related Deaths: 182

Addiction Recovery Rehab in Akron, Ohio

As you can see, the productive, beautiful lifestyle of Akron has not kept the city safe from the growing opioid crisis, street drugs, or alcohol abuse. Consequently, there has been an increased need for drug and alcohol rehabilitation in the city and surrounding areas. Though the government is doing its best to fight drug abuse through the Opiate & Addiction Task Force and Project DAWN, individuals and families also have to reach out for help when it is needed.

Fortunately, Akron residents do have access to high-quality drug and alcohol rehabilitation. If you or someone you love is facing addiction and needs help, Prosperity Haven is just a 30-40 minute drive from Akron, making it easy for victims of drug abuse to be admitted for inpatient or outpatient treatments. In addition to detox and counseling, Prosperity Haven offers dual diagnosis treatment, residential inpatient programs, group and family therapy, as well as holistic approaches to address the broader needs of each individual.

Are you or someone you love struggling with drug addiction in Akron, Ohio? Do you need help from professionals to rid yourself of drug or alcohol abuse? Are you looking for treatment options nearby that can help address drug addiction using a wide range of treatments? If so, feel free to contact the experts at Prosperity Haven to learn more about your options.