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Fighting Over-Capacity in Opioid Treatment Centers

Lack of capacity in opioid treatment centers often prevents opioid addicts from getting the help they need. (Photo courtesy of piya kunkayan / Shutterstock)
Lack of capacity in opioid treatment centers often prevents opioid addicts from getting the help they need. (Photo courtesy of piya kunkayan / Shutterstock)

Cuyahoga County’s “Know the Risks” campaign, which launched last week, is trying to educate people about opioids like prescription pills and heroin.

William Denihan, Chief Executive Officer of ADAHMS Board of Cuyahoga County hopes that by better informing people about risks before they end up with an addiction, fewer people will need help in the form of treatment.

"That awareness and understanding of the risk is what we think huge," said Denihan. "If it does have an impact, then hopefully it will lessen the stress on the system… a system that many many times has said, Come back in two weeks when we have enough beds to take care of you."

This year the ADAHMS board pledged with Cuyahoga county and the city of Cleveland to provide 1.5 million dollars for increased treatment and related services.  

Nearly 86 percent of people who abused opioids in Ohio did not have access to care according to a 2016 U.S. Senate report.

lecia.bushak@ideastream.org | 216-916-6062