Opioid Addicts in Howard County Need Greater Access to Drug Rehab Centers in Maryland
Howard County’s heroin-related death toll doubled from 2014 to 2015, and is already at 23 as of September this year. Though the opioid epidemic continues to grow nationwide, Howard County and other communities still lack access to resources that can help addicts overcome opioid dependence. At present, Howard County has no residential detox facilities, and residents are having to seek treatment at other drug rehab centers in Maryland to successfully achieve sobriety from opioids.
If you live in Howard County or a neighboring community and struggle with opioid addiction, we’ll help you find nearby rehab centers that offer detox programs. Call our 24/7 confidential helpline at 888-414-2380 to learn more about rehab centers in Maryland that will successfully help you overcome opioid addiction and dependence.
Struggling With Opioid Addiction in Howard County
Currently, addiction programs in Howard County don’t include detox treatment.
In Howard County, heroin use is being driven by prescription opioid abuse, since heroin is often less costly than prescription drugs and more easily accessible. Most opioid addiction treatments offered at drug rehab centers involve detoxification, which is vital at helping opioid addicts overcome physical dependence. Opioid addicts who try to stop using opioids on their own without participating in detox programs often experience intense cravings and withdrawal symptoms that lead to relapse.
Howard County is home to several behavioral health and substance abuse treatment facilities that can help opioid addicts overcome addiction, but these programs lack detox treatments to help addicts overcome physical dependence. Without access to detox programs, opioid addicts have a more difficult time staying sober, and are at greater risk for overdose and death. Howard County has one outpatient clinic for patients who are uninsured or have Medicaid; unfortunately, the clinic is closing at the end of the calendar year.
Maura Rossman, director of the Howard County Health Department, says many rehab centers offer addiction treatment in exchange for cash, but don’t accept most health insurance policies. Since the announcement of the local rehab closure, the county is actively working on finding new health providers that specialize in treating substance abuse disorders.
Overcoming Opioid Addiction: One Teen’s Story
Howard High School student Robert Gavin first tried oxycodone at a party during freshman year. His experimentation with opioids led to a two-year addiction he said crippled his life, and that made him realize he was either going to die from an opioid overdose or go to jail for his addiction.
To pay for his addiction, Gavin stole his mother’s jewelry and money from his brother, which he than gave to a 55-year-old disabled man in exchange for opioid painkillers. Gavin also befriended a man nearly 10 years his senior who gave him opioids in exchange for chauffeur services. Eventually, Gavin sought five-year rehab treatment from a facility in California that specializes in treating opioid addiction.
If you struggle with opioid addiction and can identify with Gavin’s story about addiction, understand there are several local rehab centers that can help you, too. Call our 24/7 confidential helpline at 888-414-2380 to learn more about drug rehab centers in Maryland that will successfully help you achieve lifelong sobriety.
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