Managing Drug Addiction: You’re Not Alone

It’s not just drug addiction; substance use disorder is a disease that affects a person’s health, work, social life, and personal relationships. Meridian HealthCare offers treatment services with a compassionate and understanding team ready to help you or your loved one on the road to recovery.

Understanding Drug Use and Addiction

Substance use disorder is a disease where the person continually participates in substance abuse despite its negative consequences. The disease affects decision-making, making it extremely hard to resist cravings. No one expects to develop an addiction after first time drug use, but chasing a euphoric feeling from dopamine releases is a reality for many people. Any kind of drug abuse can lead to substance use disorder, no matter the substance, from prescribed medications to illegal drugs.

Common Types of Drug Addictions

    • Opioids 
    • Opiates
    • Painkillers
    • Prescription Drugs
    • Stimulants
    • Hallucinogens
    • Inhalants
    • Methamphetamine
    • PCP
    • LSD
Residential treatment facility at Meridian.

Drug Addiction Treatment Locations

Meridian HealthCare has been helping people recover from substance use disorder for 50 years, and our trusted staff and services will help you find your hope for a drug-free life.

Warren Office

320 High Street NE
Warren, OH 44481
Phone: 330-318-3873

*Offers Medication Assisted Treatment and Outpatient Treatment

Meridian Campus

527 North Meridian Road
Youngstown, OH 44509
Phone: 330-797-0070

*Offers Medication Assisted Treatment, Outpatient Treatment, Youth and Young Adult

South Campus

550 W. Chalmers Ave
Youngstown, OH 44511
Phone: 330-746-7829

*Offers Outpatient Treatment and Inpatient/Detox/Residential Treatment

Addiction Risk Factors

Addiction is a disease, so genetic factors can increase the likelihood of a person developing an addiction. Age also plays a factor. Because your brain changes as you age, those who experiment with drug use at an early age increase the risk of developing a disorder.

Treatment Options

Addiction is serious and can lead to health problems or even death if not treated. If you or a loved one is struggling with drug addiction, our trusted addiction and mental health care providers can find the right treatment approach.

*If this is an emergency, call 9-1-1.

Detox/Withdrawal Management

Detoxification is the first step in the recovery process. During this process, withdrawal symptoms can occur due to drug dependence and the body’s reaction to the sudden lack of drugs in the system. Detox programs offer inpatient, 24/7 monitoring from trained healthcare providers to make the process as easy as possible.

Possible Withdrawal Symptoms

      • Nausea and vomiting
      • Body aches or pain
      • Fever
      • Chills
      • Exhaustion
      • Restlessness
      • Nightmares
      • Flu-like symptoms
      • Headaches
      • Heart palpitations or increased heart rate
      • Excessive sweating 
      • Shaking

Behavioral Therapy

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (nida.nih.gov), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a method that aims to prevent relapse. In CBT, patients develop strategies for identifying and correcting problematic behaviors and applying different skills to resist cravings and harmful actions.

Support Groups

A critical component of the recovery process is support. A person battling addiction needs to feel supported by friends, family members, and peers who are going through the same thing. 

Support groups provide a safe space for those struggling with addiction to come together and support their recovery processes together. Group members can share successes and how they’ve overcome failures. When recovering from addiction, it helps to not feel alone — and support groups like Narcotics Anonymous help because people understand what you’re going through.

Medication-Assisted Treatment

In certain situations, medication may be part of an addiction treatment plan. Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is a program closely monitored by healthcare professionals where the patient takes medication (such as methadone, suboxone, or buprenorphine) that reduces cravings and prevents the brain from producing the euphoric feeling from the drug.

Patients in the MAT program must undergo random urine drug screens and participate in counseling sessions.

Mental Health Counseling

Substance use disorder is a mental illness in and of itself, but it often co-occurs with other mental health disorders. Counseling can help a person overcome their addiction as well as address other mental illnesses. Substance abuse can often be a result of other mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, ADHD, or bipolar disorder. Counseling can address all co-occurring mental health conditions to aid recovery and prevent relapse.

Inpatient Treatment Programs

Inpatient or residential treatment offers housing to men and women so that they can recover from their addiction in a safe, supportive environment. Residential treatment programs are crucial for individuals who do not have stable housing or need a new environment to support recovery.

Inpatient treatment programs often combine multiple treatment approaches, including group therapy, detox support, individual counseling, educational sessions, 12-step meetings, personal time, and relapse prevention.

Find Hope for Recovery at Meridian

People have found hope for recovery at Meridian for over 50 years. If you or a loved one is ready to recover from drug addiction, Meridian will be there to take your call. Find your hope with us!

Man struggling with drug addiction in a counseling session.

What do current and recovering patients have to say about Meridian?

Without the help I got from Meridian, I would be dead. I’m so grateful to them for everything they did. Thanks to Meridian, I got my life back.

They actually care. Meridian helped me with my recovery. Really, they saved my life.

My Meridian counselor was the BEST ever. You should never hesitate to ask if you need help — they are great.

I had a great experience at Meridian. They are the best out there for drug and mental health issues.