Cleveland, Ohio is known as a cultural epicenter of the midwestern United States. Home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, art museums, professional sports teams, and a plethora of other attractions, it is truly a pride of Ohio and the entire country. However, this does not mean that life in Cleveland is perfect. Like many other large cities in the United States, Cleveland has been negatively affected by various larger issues, including the COVID-19 pandemic, rising unemployment, inflation, high housing prices, and the ever-worsening opioid epidemic.

Cleveland is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, which encompasses all of the smaller cities and towns that fall within the larger Cleveland area. The city is located on the southern edge of Lake Erie and is just an hour’s drive from the western border of Pennsylvania. Though Cleveland’s metropolitan population rests somewhere around 372,000 (as of 2020), more than 3.63 million people live in the Greater Cleveland Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). This makes it one of the largest city populations in which the majority of residents live outside of the city proper.

Founded in 1796 by General Moses Cleveland, the city quickly became a manufacturing and trade center for the region, thanks in large part to its access to both Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River. Today, the economy is far more diverse, relying on a variety of prosperous industries, ranging from financial services to healthcare. In 2019, the Cleveland-Akron Metropolitan Area had a combined GDP of approximately $175 billion, accounting for roughly 25% of Ohio’s GDP.

While Cleveland’s population and economy have continued to grow in the 2000s and 2010s, it has not been immune to drug and alcohol addiction. Thankfully, there are resources available to those suffering from drug and/or alcohol addiction in Cleveland Ohio. If you live in Cleveland and are currently looking for a drug rehab facility with inpatient and outpatient services, counseling, detox, and dual diagnosis treatment near you, then Prosperity Haven is just a short drive or phone call away. Prosperity Haven has already helped thousands of individuals and families in the larger Cleveland area overcome alcohol addiction and drug abuse.

However, before contacting experts in drug rehabilitation for yourself or a loved one, it is important to fully understand the severity of both alcohol addiction and the drug epidemic in Cleveland and the rest of Ohio. So, in today’s guide, we will cover some of the latest drug abuse statistics in the city, 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 Cleveland, OH.

The Drug Addiction Crisis in Cleveland

First, it is important to make the distinction between the drug crisis in Cleveland proper compared to the crisis in the Greater Cleveland Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The former comprises a much smaller population and geographic area, while the latter covers far greater territory and even different districts with varying access to drug treatment facilities. As of the latest data, Cuyahoga County was on pace to break records in 2021 with approximately 758 drug overdose deaths. [1] It is important to note that Cuyahoga County makes up the center of Cleveland proper and includes the majority of its residents.

However, when looking at the Greater Cleveland MSA, the numbers are far more shocking. Even though a relatively small percentage of overdoses result in deaths, the latest data still indicates that Cleveland MSA averages more than 1,500 drug overdose deaths every year. The majority of these deaths are the result of fentanyl abuse, including fentanyl that has been combined with illicit drugs like heroin and cocaine. [2]

It is important to remember that these statistics typically do not include alcohol. For years, alcohol abuse has been a major public health issue in Ohio, particularly in densely populated areas like Cleveland and Akron. According to reports from SAMHSA, roughly 25% of people in Cleveland over the age of 12 binge-drink alcohol on a regular basis. As a result, Cleveland (and Ohio at large) experiences some of the highest instances of alcohol abuse, alcohol poisoning, and alcohol-related deaths in the country. [3]

Cleveland Drug and Alcohol Abuse Vs. the Rest of Ohio

Ohio broke previous records in 2021 with over 5,083 accidental drug overdose deaths. But how do these numbers stack up to Cleveland? When it comes to alcohol abuse, Cleveland and Ohio are roughly the same. Slightly less than 25% of people over the age of 12 in Cleveland binge drink on a regular basis, while slightly more than 25% do so in all of Ohio.

Drug abuse statistics are similarly close between Cleveland and the rest of the state. Approximately 14.3% of Cleveland residents use or abuse illicit drugs, while slightly fewer use illicit drugs statewide (14.1%). In either case, a large percentage of drug abuse can be attributed to opioids and prescription drugs. Fentanyl has proven to be the most deadly drug that is widely abused in Cleveland and all of Ohio, though heroin, cocaine, and various opioids are also prevalent statewide.

The high population of the Greater Cleveland MSA makes it a center for both drug and alcohol abuse. Though statistically similar to the rest of the state, including rural and suburban areas, Cleveland often sees higher overall numbers of overdoses and deaths. Fortunately, most Cleveland residents have easier access to both inpatient and outpatient treatment, reducing the risk of death in the event of a drug or alcohol overdose.

Regardless of the city, all of Ohio has seen an increase in substance abuse in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Reduced income and increased unemployment led to higher crime and substance abuse rates, especially in densely populated cities like Cleveland. While both Ohio and local Ohio health authorities take drug and alcohol addiction very seriously, it has not been enough to completely eliminate the problem. It remains to be seen how Cleveland and the rest of Ohio work to reduce rising fentanyl-related deaths going forward.

Substance Abuse Treatment & Prevention in Cleveland

Due to the high rates of drug and alcohol abuse in the state of Ohio, authorities have taken significant strides to make addiction treatment more accessible to the public in recent years. The Cleveland Department of Public Health (CDPH) Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse (OMHSA) is specifically designed to provide aid and create measures to prevent and treat drug abuse in Ohio. In Cleveland, residents have access to all of the following programs created by the CDPH and OMHSA:

• TINAD – This Is Not About Drugs (TINAD) is a program to help educate 6th through 12th-grade students on the dangers of drug use.
• CenterPoint Project – The CenterPoint Project directs both individuals and families to the best treatment options for their specific needs, including detox, support groups, as well as inpatient and outpatient treatment.
• Project DAWN – This initiative helps individuals and families recognize the signs of an overdose and educates them on the proper course of action if someone is experiencing a drug overdose.

Additionally, Cleveland residents are within driving distance of various substance abuse clinics and detox centers, including Prosperity Haven.

Cleveland, Ohio Addiction Statistics

Cleveland is a large city that makes up a significant portion of Ohio’s substance abuse problems, particularly if you look at the entirety of the Greater Cleveland MSA. However, it is still difficult to grasp the enormity of the problem in Cleveland without examining the statistics. These numbers offer a more coherent picture of the drug crisis for residents of “The Forest City.” So, here are a few of the latest and most relevant findings in Cleveland, Ohio as of 2022:

• Annual Overdoses: 11,836
• Cause of Overdose
  • Unspecified Substances: 59%
  • Illicit Substances: 23%
  • Prescription Drugs: 18%
• Annual Drug and Alcohol-Related Deaths: 758

Addiction Recovery Rehab in Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland is a thriving city that has attracted new residents from all over the world. Unfortunately, this has not stopped the growing drug and alcohol abuse in the city. Even though Cleveland is on par with the rest of Ohio, its high population makes it an epicenter of substance abuse in the state. With overdoses and drug and alcohol-related deaths rising every year in Cleveland, the city needs comprehensive resources to combat addiction more than ever.

Thankfully, Cleveland residents can access high-quality drug and alcohol rehabilitation through Prosperity Haven. So, if you or someone you know is dealing with drug or alcohol addiction, you don’t have to try to overcome the affliction on your own. You have various resources throughout the city of Cleveland, as well as help from the experts at Prosperity Haven. If you choose to fight your addiction with us, you can gain access to both inpatient and outpatient facilities, as well as a plethora of individual and group-based treatments.

At Prosperity Haven, we do our best to take as much stress and uncertainty out of the process of overcoming drug or alcohol addiction. In addition to detox and counseling, we offer dual diagnosis treatment, residential inpatient programs, group and family therapy, as well as holistic approaches to address the broader needs of each individual. This way, you can get the help you need without having to visit multiple clinics, doctors, or facilities throughout the state. Instead, you can simply call up Prosperity Haven and take the first step toward recovery.

Are you or someone you love struggling with drug addiction in Cleveland, Ohio? Are you looking for facilities nearby that can help address drug addiction using a wide range of treatments? If so, feel free to contact the experts at Prosperity Haven today.