Ravenna, Ohio is a small city located in Portage County, roughly 25 minutes east of Akron and 45 minutes southeast of Cleveland. Due to its size and commercial activity, it serves as the county seat in Portage County. As of 2020, the city of Ravenna boasted a population of 11,323 full-time residents. Moreover, Ravenna is a part of both the Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area and the larger Cleveland–Akron–Canton Combined Statistical Area.

The city of Ravenna was founded by Benjamin Tappan in 1799. Tappan would later become a U.S. District Judge in Ohio. But before his work in the court system, Tappan laid claim to land purchased under his father’s name that was still part of the Connecticut Western Reserve at the time. Strangely, Benjamin Tappan did not remain in the area for long. Instead, he built a settlement of small cabins in the area before returning to his home in Connecticut.

After getting married the same year, Tappan did return to Ohio and built another log cabin for his new family. It was Tappan’s wife, Nancy, who suggested that he name the township after the city of Ravenna in Italy. Nancy worked hard to steer the social and political tone of the region, even helping to make Ravenna the seat of Portage County in 1808. However, her early influence was cut short when the Tappans once again left Ohio and returned to Connecticut.

In any case, the small town quickly grew as a result of transplants from Connecticut. Throughout the 19th Century, Ravenna added a schoolhouse, post office, church, and various roads connecting it to other settlements in the region. During this time, the town also became home to several successful businesses, including a maker of hearses and a glass manufacturer. The famous Quaker Oats Company was even founded in Ravenna in 1879.

Ravenna continued to grow and prosper throughout the 20th Century. By the 1990s, the local government invested $3 million to renovate the city, including many of its historical sites and buildings. Unfortunately, many of the industries that kept the local economy strong became less relevant in the 21st Century. As a result, the population has been in a slow decline since its peak in the 1990s. More recently, Ravenna was negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This, combined with widespread economic hardship, increased the prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse in the city.

Fortunately, if you live in or near Ravenna, OH, you can easily reach out to the experts at Prosperity Haven for help. Prosperity Haven has treated thousands of individuals and families in Ohio for alcohol addiction and drug abuse. We are just a 30-minute drive or phone call away, so if you or someone you love needs help, don’t be afraid to contact us as soon as possible.

However, before you consider rehab for yourself or someone you love, it is important to understand the impact that drugs and alcohol have on the citizens of Ravenna. So, in today’s guide, we will cover some of the latest drug abuse statistics in the area, 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 and alcohol addiction in Ravenna, OH.

The Drug Addiction Crisis in Ravenna

As of the latest data, Portage County recorded 237 annual drug overdoses, down from a peak of 407 overdoses in 2017. [1] Of these cases, 27 resulted in opioid-related deaths. [2] While illicit drugs are also prevalent in Ravenna and Portage County, prescription opioids (often combined with alcohol or other substances), are most often the cause of overdose and death.

Like many small and mid-sized cities in Ohio, Ravenna also has to deal with widespread alcohol abuse. According to SAMHSA, about 1 out of every 4 adults in Portage County binge-drink alcohol on a regular basis. As a result, Portage County (and Ohio at large) experiences some of the highest instances of alcoholism.

Ravenna Drug and Alcohol Abuse Vs. the Rest of Ohio

Ohio ranks among the worst states for drug overdoses and alcohol abuse. The state saw more than 5,000 drug overdose deaths in 2021 alone. But how does this compare to the city of Ravenna? When it comes to alcohol abuse, Ravenna and Portage County are about the same as the rest of the state. 25% of Portage County and Ohio residents report binge drinking regularly.

However, drug abuse is not quite as common in Ravenna and the rest of Portage County as it is in the entire state of Ohio. Roughly 27 of every 100,000 people in Portage County die from drug overdoses every year. In the entire state of Ohio, just over 37 out of every 100,000 people die of drug overdoses annually. The reasons for this difference are not entirely clear, but Ravenna’s access to both public and private treatment options has certainly helped lower the city’s overdose death rates.

Substance Abuse Treatment & Prevention in Ravenna

Ravenna and Portage County have several programs dedicated to helping residents overcome their addictions. The City of Ravenna offers the Drug Take Back Program to help addicts safely dispose of drugs and drug paraphernalia, [3] while Portage County offers Project Dawn, which helps educate residents on the dangers of opioids and distributes Naloxone to those who need it. [4] Additionally, the Ohio Department of Public Health’s Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse (OMHSA) is specifically designed to provide aid and create measures to prevent and treat drug abuse throughout the state.

Lastly, Ravenna residents are within driving distance of several private clinics and detox centers, including Prosperity Haven.

Ravenna, Ohio Addiction Statistics

While Ravenna’s substance abuse may not be as prevalent as it is in the rest of Ohio, it is still a dangerous and growing problem. Even if overdoses do not always result in deaths, it doesn’t mean that addiction is not making life harder for hundreds or thousands of people in the area. However, it can be difficult to understand the extent of the problem without looking at the data. So, here are a few of the latest and most relevant findings in Ravenna, Ohio as of 2022:

• Annual Overdoses: 24
• Cause of Overdose
  • Unspecified Substances: 60%
  • Illicit Substances: 17%
  • Prescription Drugs: 23%
• Annual Drug and Alcohol-Related Deaths: 3

Addiction Recovery Rehab in Ravenna, Ohio

Ravenna may be a prosperous and beautiful city, but it is not immune to addiction. Problems with alcohol and drugs have only worsened in the wake of COVID-19. Fortunately, there is hope. The local and state government offers numerous programs to help residents beat their addictions. Additionally, the people of Ravenna have access to the expert treatment options available through Prosperity Haven.

At Prosperity Haven, we work diligently to provide patients with a safe environment in which they can overcome their addictions. 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 won’t have to travel from one place to another just to get all of the treatment options you need. In fact, all you have to do is call or stop by Prosperity Haven today to take the first step toward recovery.

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