The Addiction Policy Forum launched an online tool this week to help Ohioans struggling with addiction, as well as their loved ones, find the care and treatment they need: AddictionResourceCenter.org (The ARC Portal).
In Ohio, 11 people die per day from a drug overdose — the 4,050 overdose deaths in Ohio in 2016 marked a 33% increase from the prior year. It is a true public health emergency. One of the greatest challenges to finding treatment is the lack of a trusted place to seek help when an individual or family member is in crisis and in need of good information and proper care.
To ensure Ohioans can find the treatment and support they need, Addiction Policy Forum is launching the Addiction Resource Center (ARC). The ARC portal provides comprehensive, local resources to assist patients who are struggling with a substance use disorder as well as their loved ones. The new platform will present the science behind the disorder in easy-to-read formats, guide concerned individuals through a validated self-assessment tool, help them develop a proposed action plan, and direct them to treatment resources in their local area.
Ohio is one of the first four states where this tool is now available. It will be rolled out to states across the country over the course of this year.
About Addiction Policy Forum
The Addiction Policy Forum (APF) is a diverse partnership of organizations, policymakers and stakeholders committed to working together to elevate awareness around addiction and to improve national policy through a comprehensive response that includes prevention, treatment, recovery and criminal justice reform. We envision a world where fewer lives are lost and help exists for the millions of Americans affected by addiction every day.
Addiction Policy Forum is headquartered in Washington, DC, with state chapters throughout the country that are run by family members who have been impacted by addiction. Together, the national organization and state chapters will focus on the implementation of eight strategic focus areas, all of which are critical to ensuring long-term progress against substance use disorders at the national, state and local levels. Addiction Policy Forum’s national and state programs include: “What is Addiction?” education initiative, Train the Trainer program, 174aDay awareness campaign and the Spotlight Series.
More information about our mission and projects is available at http://addictionpolicy.org.