How do place and space affect those experiencing mental illness, specifically addiction, in Athens, Ohio? In class, we’ve talked in length about the relationships between space/place and race, gender, class, ability, and sexuality. We’ve learned about how those experiencing homelessness are affected by the place rules of their region. In terms of those experiencing addiction, I’m curious about the resources available to those recovering and how the community has worked to be inclusive and sensitive to those struggling with drugs or alcohol.
Naturally, resources for those experiencing alcohol or drug addiction vary from city to city. If a city does not have many resources then the lack of space dedicated to helping those struggling with addiction might indicate that there is not a place for them within that society. Indirectly, the area is erasing and excluding a population of people by not allowing them to thrive.
According to the Ohio Substance Abuse Monitoring Network, one of the most commonly abused drugs in the region was heroin. As of 2018, it had become increasingly common for heroin to be cut with fentanyl. Opioid availability and addiction are common in Appalachia and the trends in Athens, OH seems to support this.
As for resources in Athens, there seemed to be a fair amount of rehabilitation centers or halfway houses dedicated to addiction. Health Recovery Services Inc. is specifically dedicated to helping those with addiction and offers different forms of outpatient treatment. Hopewell Health Center offers mental health services as well as one form of outpatient treatment. Chillicothe VA Med Center also offers outpatient rehab and mental health services. The John W. Clem Recovery House on Dairy Lane is dedicated to helping male alcoholics and drug addicts through recovery and hosts multiple 12 step programs.
In terms of 12 step programs in the area, Alcoholics Anonymous has a large presence in Athens, especially for a rural town. With eighteen available meetings throughout the week at varying times, they are a relatively accessible service in the community. Narcotics Anonymous, a slightly smaller offshoot of AA, has four available meetings in the city of Athens. Additionally, Al-anon, providing services for those affected by a loved one’s addiction, has three established and available meetings in the city of Athens.
Furthermore, the Gathering Place, “a community support program,” provides recovery resources and support for adults coping with mental illness. Though not specifically established to help those with addiction, this nonprofit organization does offer recovery help. Through health and wellness activities, linkage services, and advocacy programs, this community-run nonprofit has been an established part of the Athens community since 1976.
As a whole, Athens provides a large amount of addiction support. Because rural areas do not have as many addiction services as urban ones, those struggling with addiction are often without many options. Athens, however; does seem to have a fair amount of services. Ultimately, in its creation of place for those experiencing addiction, the Athens community would appear to be relatively inclusive and supportive of its fellow community members.
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I enjoyed reading this post and learning about the different resources for those suffering from addiction specific to the Athens area. From the very first weeks I was a student at OU, I have talked with community members and faculty at the university who stress the importance of social issues affecting the region. Having grown up in a city with exposure to drug use and addiction as well as being aware of the drug epidemic in the United States, I understood that these issues touched Athens. However, I did not know about the extent of resources that are available to those who are struggling themselves and their loved ones.
ReplyDeleteThis past year, I worked at the Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church cafe. Through speaking with parishioners at the church, I discovered that the common hall is used as a space for varying groups to meet. I was glad to be able to see that there are attainable spaces for people close to campus to get support. When I return to OU in the fall, I want to get more involved with organizations that offer services to people in the community and specifically those affected by addiction. I feel as if there is a large disconnect between the university and the general body of students and the adjacent areas in the county. On several occasions, I have been encouraged by adults in Athens to venture out into areas surrounding Athens instead of remaining comfortable in the campus vicinity. These suggestions are valid and important, but there should be a reminder that for some students, (specifically those of color) towns and communities apart from Athens may not be safe for everyone.
It's evident that in most of Appalachia drug addiction is a serious problem, but it's really refreshing to see that Athens has various resources they can get help from. Coming from Pike County, which is just a few counties over from Athens country, we don't have as many resources and it's unfortunate that people seeking those types of resources have to travel longer distances. I thought it was interesting in the point you made about secluding them from society. I think Athens makes marginalized individuals feel less as outcastes and more like real people. Hopefully more resources spring up in rural southern Ohio.
ReplyDeleteIt’s nice reading about all the various resources available to those that are struggling with drug addiction in the Athens region. I grew up in the Columbus area and I was very sheltered from the issue of addiction growing up. My mom started working hospice when I was in middle school and once I got into high school my exposure to drugs and alcohol increased as is the case for most people. My Mom recently quit her job working as a hospice nurse last year and now works in drug rehabilitation.
ReplyDeleteOne of my friends from highschool’s old boss overdosed earlier tonight after he had already attended his boss’ brothers funeral a few years prior. My friend’s family also has issues with drugs and alcohol. While the issue of drug addiction is certainly nuanced there never seems to be an end to the amount of lives that are completely and utterly destroyed by drugs. Drug addiction can happen to anyone but often those that are most vulnerable are younger people, and people in social and financial turmoil. Additionally, one doesn’t have to be addicted to drugs to cause themselves or others pain. The amount of injuries and deaths occurred under the influence of drugs is too many to count. I encourage anyone who’s suffering and or knows someone who’s suffering from addiction to speak up and seek treatment.
I am very glad you brought this up. I was interested in looking at the effects of drugs on homelessness during my group project but we simply did not have the time or means to do so. Especially in a place like Athens and surrounding areas where the opioid epidemic has reached many homes and ruined many lives. Being the child of a woman who works in social services and child welfare has made me more aware than most of the ways in which drugs affect our community. I have heard more horror stories than one can imagine, and have been eternally grateful for my family and the opportunities I have been given. I used to have no sympathy for the parents who lost their children, because I believed they deserved it for the things that they had caused their children to suffer through. As I got older, I watched my dad struggle with his own addiction, and came to realize that drugs don’t make you love your kids any less (at least in a majority of cases). Not many people, especially college students are in tune with the happenings of events off campus, especially those that are not in Athens city. Athens proper is a bit of a bubble, in that the surrounding areas such as Chauncey and Glouster hold a very different demographic of people and are often ignored when talking about Athens as a whole. Thank you for bringing these issues into the light.
ReplyDeleteDrug abuse or substance abuse is a widespread issue. Although popular culture has created certain stereotypes for the drug abuser, all are susceptible to Cocaine Addiction treatment Cost. The intensity of addiction, the type of substance abused and the effects may vary based on the genetic makeup of the individual among other environmental factors. It is heartening to note that drug addiction is treatable. This treatment process is also called drug rehabilitation.
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