Chicago, Illinois, sits along the shores of Lake Michigan. Chicago was founded as a portage between the Great Lakes and The Mississippi River watershed. In 1871, a large portion of the city was destroyed by fire, leaving more than 100,000 people homeless. Forced to rebuild from the ground up, Chicago flourished and evolved into an international hub for industry, finance, and culture. Today, Chicago is home to O’Hare airport (one of the top 6 busiest in the nation) and is the nation’s railroad hub.
Chicago is the third-largest city in the United States, outpaced only by New York City and Los Angeles. With a population of 2.7 million people, Chicago is the largest city in Illinois. An estimated 10 million people call the Chicago metropolitan area home. With such a substantial population, it is easy to see how the greater Chicago area could struggle as the nation’s drug epidemic continues to affect cities and demographics of all shapes and sizes.
Problems with drug use and abuse in Chicago began well before the current national opioid crisis. The Windy City has been struggling with an opioid problem for decades. Like many large cities and metropolitan areas in the United States, Chicago sees drugs exchanged in the open air, children born “under the influence,” and a growing presence of drug cartels and drug trafficking. All of the above maintain a firm grip on the city as work at the state and local levels tries to slow the rate of addiction and overdose deaths in the city.
Well before the documented national opioid epidemic, Chicago had an opioid problem. Referred to as “open-air markets,” drug sales have occurred in broad daylight throughout the city since the 1980s. In recent months, several large-scale drug busts have occurred in areas around the city. The effort to curb so-called open-air sales has led to hundreds of arrests near public transit hubs, city neighborhoods, and outside of local businesses. Crime and violence associated with drug sales and trafficking have forced some businesses to close their doors for good. Unfortunately, law enforcement efforts have done little to slow the effects of addiction in Chicago.
The rate of opioid-related deaths in Chicago shows little sign of declining. According to data provided by the Chicago Department of Public Health in the 2019 Annual Opioid Surveillance Report. Eight hundred fifty-five people died from an opioid-related overdose in Chicago. Although this number does not sound “large” when one considers the population of Chicago, it accounts for more than the total deaths resulting from homicides and traffic accidents combined in the same year. Between 2018 and 2019, the death rate from opioid-related causes increased by more than 10%. Emergency medical response teams responded to more than 10,000 opioid-related emergencies in 2019, accounting for nearly 30 responses every day-a 25.4% increase over response statistics from 2018.
The highest rate of overdose death from opioid use in Chicago continues to impact black males between ages 45 and 64. Numbers are also higher among non-latinx and those experiencing high levels of economic hardship. Although the poverty rate in Chicago has declined at a steady pace since a high in 2012 of 24%, more than 20% of Chicago residents (one out of every 4.8 residents) still live at or below the poverty line. Compared to the statewide poverty rate of 13.5%, Chicago has a dramatically higher than average percentage of residents living in poverty.
A growing number of Chicago youth are falling victim to opioid use and opioid-related death. In 2019, over 5% of high school students reported using heroin at least once. This is a significantly higher percentage than the national statistic of 1.2%. Also, prescription drug abuse and heroin use in 2019 was considerably higher among LGBTQ youth.
Opioid death does not discriminate based on economic status. The same report noted that 95% of Chicago’s community areas experienced at least one resident with a fatal opioid-related overdose. Although one opioid was the primary cause of death in all cases, polydrug use is common, and many cases involve more than one drug. Fifty-five of the documented deaths were attributed to prescription pain medication used in conjunction with illicit opioids such as heroin or fentanyl. The rate of deaths attributed to fentanyl increased by nearly 67% between 2018 and 2019. Given the overwhelming ease of drug access in Chicago, seeking and getting help at a drug rehab in the Chicago area may seem challenging, but the help you need is here at Brightside Recovery.
When you are ready to seek treatment to overcome addiction, it is essential to find a treatment center where both the treatment model and environment match your needs and goals. Drug and alcohol addictions are dangerous; however, there are circumstances where the process of quitting carries substantial risk. Suddenly stopping or quitting “cold turkey” can bring about acute withdrawal symptoms, which can be challenging to manage. Some drugs, such as alcohol, depressants, benzodiazepines, and prescription opioids, can produce dangerous, sometimes fatal, symptoms if you stop using without the guidance and support of caring treatment professionals.
If you or a loved one are ready to get sober at a drug and alcohol rehab in Chicago, it is important to choose a treatment center like Brightside Recovery, where detox is available. At our Chicago area treatment center, we provide comprehensive detox services with the option to choose medication-assisted treatments. Whether you choose to detox with or without medication to assist with symptom management, our highly skilled team of treatment professionals will provide support and guidance as you work through the most challenging days of overcoming drug and alcohol use.
Once you have finished detox, it is possible to transition into the therapeutic portion of our outpatient drug and alcohol rehab in the Chicago area. Our treatment team will work with you to design a comprehensive program that addresses your unique addiction treatment needs. As part of your therapy program at our Illinois drug rehab, you will participate in individual, group, and family therapy sessions designed to help you and your loved ones learn more about addiction and how to manage triggers and prevent relapse. As you complete your treatment program, we will work with you to ensure you have a strong aftercare plan in place as you transition out of an active therapeutic environment.
The first step towards getting help to overcome addiction is to acknowledge your struggle with drugs or alcohol. The next step is finding a treatment center where you feel safe and supported as you start the recovery process. Contacting the admissions team at Brightside Recovery can help you take those first steps on your journey to sobriety and recovery. The caring and compassionate team at our outpatient drug and alcohol rehab near Chicago is here to provide support and guidance throughout every step of your journey before, during, and after treatment. Addiction, although complex and challenging to overcome, can be defeated. The help you need to put addiction behind you is here at our alcohol abuse treatment center in Chicago. Contact us today at 708-360-7022 to learn more about how our services can help you get healthy and sober.