Drug & alcohol rehab in Chicago is undoubtedly what its residents need, as the city has been suffering greatly from the consequences of substance abuse. In order to fully overcome an addiction, the proper course of treatment is required. Substance abuse treatment in Chicago normally begins with a detox program, which can help addicts go through the withdrawal process and the symptoms that come with it safely and with supervision, so that they can then move on to an inpatient or outpatient treatment program.
Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Chicago, IL
Substance abuse is definitely a problem in Chicago, and it has been affecting the community in many different ways. The Chicago Field Division (CFD) is part of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and it consists of three states: Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Now, most cities in the CFD that have drugs in their streets get them from Chicago. The biggest concern in the CFD is that there are many drugs present in the area, and the main threats are heroin and fentanyl, as they are some of the most available drugs in the CFD. For instance, in the 2018 fiscal year, there were 472.8 kilograms of heroin seized, which is a 26% increase from the year before. In Chicago, there were lots of hospitalizations that were related to substance use, and the rate for 2011 was at 89.5 hospitalizations per 10,000 population, according to the Healthy Chicago 2.0 Community Health Assessment (CHA). Drug use is also present in the youth population of Chicago. It was reported in 2013 that 28.5% of high school students had used marijuana in the previous 30 days. So, it is very obvious that Chicago is taken by addiction to drugs and alcohol and it affects many age ranges. This makes the presence of alcohol & drug rehab programs in Chicago even more important.
Chicago’s Solutions to Prevent Substance Abuse
In order to help tackle the issues mentioned above, there are many substance abuse prevention programs in Chicago available that can help. First, there is the Campaign for a Drug-Free Westside Inc. (CFDFW), which serves the Westside of Chicago and whose mission is to provide intervention, prevention, and education services, as well as other resources to promote a drug-free community. Another organization situated in the Westside is Prevention Partnership, Inc, and its staff works tirelessly to organize events and implement programs. The programs they currently have include substance abuse prevention for youth, programs for responsible alcohol service, and drunk driving prevention. Then, there is the Southwest Coalition for Substance Abuse Issues, which provides constant help for those who are impacted by substance abuse through education, advocacy, etc. They also collaborate with other organizations to help legislators and officials stay up to date on the drug trends and on what is needed for prevention and treatment. To help fight the opioid epidemic, there are several drop-off locations provided by the Chicago Public Health Department where residents can safely dispose of their unused or expired medications. The Police Department of Chicago also provides the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program in schools, so youth can have the tools needed to resist peer pressure and the other things that come with substance use. Finally, Chicago PD has the Canine Unit, and they are trained for many tasks, including the detection of narcotics, building searches, and locating missing persons. All the organizations that we just went over are working extremely hard to make Chicago safer and to provide a drug-free environment.
HOW DO I KEEP MY SON OR DAUGHTER AWAY FROM DRUGS IN SUCH A LARGE CITY?
It can be difficult for a parent to see what teenagers and young children are exposed to, but as long as parents continue to speak to their kids about the dangers of drugs, what they are, and how they impact people's lives; it will help their kids make the right choices. Most communities throughout th