The Response - 19

	 Seek support. It helps to have someone you feel comfortable talking
to, with whom you can be completely open. It can be helpful to talk
to people who have had similar experiences and have found healthy
ways to cope. Support groups such as Al-Anon and Nar-Anon give
you an opportunity to talk openly and meet people who are in the
same situation. Individual counseling can also be helpful.
	 Most inpatient treatment facilities have a family program which
provides support and education. This is a good opportunity to learn
more about addiction, recovery, and the treatment process. If the
center your loved one is at does not have one, take some time to seek
out educational resources. One good place to start is the library at the
Council on Chemical Abuse.

OPIOID DEATHS IN
PENNSYLVANIA

The Opioid Epidemic in Pennsylvania is one of the
largest causes of death among Pennsylvania residents.
Deaths due to opioids has impacted all ages,
genders and races in PA.
PENNSYLVANIA DEATHS BY AGE

0-24
25-34

	 Once you have taken time to take care of yourself, it will be time
to start thinking about the next steps. If your loved one was living
with you prior to entering treatment, you may want to encourage
them to consider alternatives. Returning to the same environment
where someone was using is typically not beneficial, especially after
such a short amount of time. A recovery housing program is one
option for maintaining a supportive, structured environment where
an individual can continue to develop the habits and behaviors that
reinforce a life in recovery.

The Next Crossroad -

Where to go after inpatient treatment

"I had a decision to make and a major one; the decision was
where I was going to go after I got out of rehab in a week.
I could probably talk to some old friends and they would
let me stay for a little but they were still getting high and
I knew enough at that time to know that was a bad idea.
I was essentially homeless and told this to my counselor
in rehab and she recommended that I try and get into
the YMCA or Easy Does It (EDI); the YMCA was full at
the time so I ended up at EDI. The day I got out of rehab
was the same day that I entered EDI. I look back on that
decision, now ten years later, and realize apart from
going to rehab it was to be the most impactful decision
I've made for myself to date. I lived there for a little over
a year and it offered me something I desperately needed
which was structure, accountability, and hope. Had I made
the easy decision and gone to live with friends after
rehab I would not be alive today." - Anonymous Person in Recovery
	 It is recommended that individuals in early recovery avoid people,
places, and things. It is suggested to avoid the same living environment
that the person had been at prior to treatment. The question of what
to do after rehab is a vital one and in Berks County there are several
options to aid individuals seeking a safe place to go after they complete
inpatient treatment (listed on resource page).
	 The most common names associated with housing after treatment are:
halfway house, transitional housing, recovery house, and sober living.
There are slight differences between them but most offer structure

35-44
45-54
55+

PENNSYLVANIA OPIOID DEATHS BY RACE (%)

Hispanic
Black
White
0

20

40

60

80

100

PENNSYLVANIA OPIOID DEATHS
BY GENDER (%)
Stopping
Female
Overdose Deaths

Male

$3 Million
Amount spent earmarked
for Naloxone Kits in
Pennsylvania in 2017

NEONATAL ABSTINENCE
SYNDROME

15 out of every 1,000 babies
in PA were born with an
Opioid Withdrawal in 2017
This amount
increased by 1,100%
since 2000

0

50

100

EVERYONE IS AT RISK

Opioid addiction can happen
to anyone regardless of age,
gender, race, or economic
status. Prescription opioid
abuse often leads to abuse of
illicit drug use including the
use of heroin.

Learn More at www.cocaberks.org

Continued on page 20
cocaberks.org

19
http://www.cocaberks.org http://www.cocaberks.org
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Response
