Tuesday, 23 August 2016 05:00

Day Two: VIDEO Waiting For Help

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While there are a number of treatment centers available in Summit County for those struggling with a heroin addiction, the problem that continues to arise is the lack of space available to house new patients. For many, getting help begins with their name being placed on a wait list -- which can sometimes lead to a more than a month long wait.

"My memory is a little foggy, but I do remember being on a a wait list for treatment centers and calling in everyday or every other day, sometimes waiting a month or two months," said Rick of Akron. " I hear it's worse now."

Rick has been sober for 11 years. While it's been years since Ricky has contacted a treatment, Rick says he understands the issues some are facing today in the area. 

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"We're getting people in a hospital, and we're reviving them with Narcan, saving their life, and then we're going 'bye...goodbye,''"

Tonia Wright's daughter, Kylie, 21, is currently struggling with a heroin addiction and has been on a wait list for treatment for more than a month.

"She's on a waiting list to get into rehab or to get into detox and the waiting list seems to go on and on and on," said Wright. "It's not a problem with insurance because she has our personal insurance, so it's not an insurance problem, it's a facility problem because there's just not enough beds."

Wright calls it a "traumatizing " experience, especially to see her daughter's boyfriend overdose twice.

It's a bitter battle for Kylie who has struggled to stay clean while waiting for a spot to open at a local treatment facility.

"You just don't know how to get out and you can't no matter how hard you try," said Kylie.

While Kylie says she has gone through months without using heroin, she says slip-ups are bound to happen when the proper treatment is not available.

"You never completely recover from it, no matter how long. You know what I mean? You're always an addict."

Read 3808 times Last modified on Tuesday, 23 August 2016 04:46