Lying just east of Shaker Heights, Beachwood is a thriving suburb of Cleveland. It is popular among local residents and travelers alike, thanks in part to its fascinating history and diverse population. However, not everything about Beachwood, Ohio is ideal. Like many smaller cities throughout Ohio and the country, Beachwood has been hit hard by the increasing numbers of drug and alcohol abusers. 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 Beachwood, Ohio, then Prosperity Haven is just a short drive away.

To fully understand the addiction crisis facing Beachwood, it is important to look at the statistics and the specific issues facing Beachwood residents. In today’s guide, we will cover some of the latest drug abuse statistics in the area, as well as government programs used to combat the epidemic.

The Drug Addiction Crisis in Beachwood

Before it was Beachwood, the land currently attributed to the city was part of the larger Connecticut Western Reserve, a region claimed by the state of Connecticut but later absorbed by Ohio. In 1915, the city of Beachwood seceded from the Warrensville Township, gaining its independence as its own village. This was the result of an unpopular vote by the Warrensville local government to close a public school in the area.

When it was first formed, Beachwood was only large enough to be categorized as a village. However, by 1960, it had already grown large enough to become a city under Ohio state law. Though Beachwood is not too far from the coastline, it does not have direct contact with Lake Erie, which has caused some confusion over its name. Oddly enough, the name was actually derived from the large number of Beech trees native to the area. The current spelling is contested by historians, though many believe it was simply a misspelling by the county clerk.

Due to a large influx of immigrants during WW2, the city of Beachwood gained an increasingly diverse population. To this day, the city is known for its large Jewish community. While the city is very welcoming nowadays, the building of a synagogue stirred controversy in Beachwood in the late 1940s. The issue went all the way to the Supreme Court before the city was officially granted permission to break ground on the temple.

Despite its fascinating history, drug and alcohol abuse are pervasive in Beachwood. With a population of over 11,500 (as of 2019), Beachwood sees a relatively large number of drug or alcohol-related deaths. The introduction of methamphetamine and carfentanil has increased overdose rates throughout the city. It has also diverted the police department’s attention to the growing number of drug-related crimes.

As of the latest data, an alarming number of Beachwood residents have dealt with the stress of the COVID-19 in unhealthy and dangerous ways. In addition to alcohol, opioids, and methamphetamine, many drug abusers have begun creating drug cocktails with heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and various other drugs. This has resulted in increased overdose deaths at a time when hospitals are already overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients. Consequently, Beachwood and Cuyahoga County have struggled to keep the drug crisis under control.

Beachwood Drug and Alcohol Abuse Vs the Rest of Ohio

Beachwood’s overdose and death rates are higher than the Ohio state average. Sadly, these numbers continue to rise in all but a few of the most recent years. Between 2010 and 2018, Beachwood saw a spike in overdose deaths rates that peaked in 2017. [1] As previously stated, the number of overdose deaths has only increased since the pandemic began in March of 2020. Since then, Beachwood has been a center for both drug and alcohol abuse in the larger Cleveland metropolitan area.

However, it’s important to note that Beachwood has combatted the drug epidemic better than many other cities in Ohio. For example, Point Pleasant, Ohio has seen rising numbers of overdose patients in its emergency rooms, with over half of those cases resulting in death. Comparatively, only 27% of Beachwood’s overdoses result in death.

Still, Beachwood’s drug problem is incredibly difficult to control compared to some other small cities and counties in Ohio. For example, cities like Wakaponeta and Ashland have recorded overdose death rates as low as 2% and 7%, respectively. Naturally, these numbers cannot be attributed to one single factor. Different issues including crime rates, demographics, poverty rates, income, and access to healthcare all affect different cities in different ways. For this reason, there is a great deal of variation in the overdose rates and death rates between cities in Ohio.

In short, Beachwood experiences higher overdose and death rates than Ohio at large. Additionally, addiction and drug-related deaths have only increased during the pandemic, though this is a problem that is not specific to Beachwood or even Ohio. Beachwood is like many other small cities throughout the United States. Local law enforcement, hospitals, and government administrations have worked to combat drug and alcohol abuse, but various factors have still made it difficult for many Beachwood residents to overcome their addictions.

Substance Abuse Treatment & Prevention in Beachwood

The Beachwood city government is aware of the growing addiction problem within the city limits and the rest of Cuyahoga County. Currently, the city government provides resources to help people understand what kind of drugs are most addictive and how to look out for signs of addiction in loved ones. Moreover, they offer direct help to drug and alcohol abusers through Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS). This board helps fund and monitor mental health and drug recovery initiatives across the entire county, with a large percentage of its efforts dedicated to Beachwood. [2]

Due to the relatively small population, much of the responsibility for combatting drug and alcohol abuse in Beachwood is left up to programs and resources provided by Cuyahoga County, the City of Cleveland, and the State of Ohio. Nonetheless, Beachwood has seen some progress in the fight against illicit street drugs. For example, the presence of carfentanil, once one of the biggest killers in Beachwood, has steadily decreased, while increased access to Naloxone kits has been funded by the local government to help reduce overdose death rates. [3]

Beachwood, Ohio Addiction Statistics

Up to this point, we have discussed some of the bigger drug and alcohol-related issues facing Beachwood residents. Now, it is time to look at the hard statistics. These numbers provide the clearest picture of the severity of drug and alcohol abuse in the city, as well as the efficacy of various efforts to fight or prevent addiction. Here are a few of the latest and most relevant findings in Beachwood, Ohio as of 2020:

• Annual Overdoses: 59
• Cause of Overdose
  • Unspecified Substances: 56%
  • Illicit Substances: 23%
  • Poisoning: 1%
  • Prescription Drugs: 20%
• Annual Drug-Related Deaths: 16

Addiction Recovery Rehab in Beachwood, Ohio

While the addiction crisis in Beachwood continues to worsen, there are various ways to help those in need. Both local and state programs are designed to reduce the effects of the opioid epidemic. Additionally, there are drug and alcohol recovery facilities that can provide direct help.

Fortunately, Beachwood residents 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 short drive from the city, making it easy for victims of drug or alcohol 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 or alcohol addiction in Beachwood, Ohio? 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.