Chicago Treatment Centers

Illinois is one of the largest states in this country, home to some 12.4 million people. Chicago, meanwhile, is the third largest city in this country, home to nearly 3 million people, most of which live in Cook County. Unfortunately, Chicago is a huge transportation and distribution hub for legal and illicit substances and commodities. It is also home to various street gangs, most notably the Gangster Disciples, the Vice Lords, and the Latin Kings, who have flooded the city with drugs and other substances.

Drugs of Main Concern in Chicago

Alcohol is a widely abused substance in Chicago, as it is in the rest of the country. However, there are particular concerns regarding five substances. They have had a huge impact on the criminal justice and health care system, and effectively touch every individual within the community. The five substances are:

1. Cocaine, with crack cocaine being a particularly commonly abused substance in urban areas and Chicago itself. There has been a near 200% increase in admissions to treatment centers for crack cocaine, a statistic maintained by the Division of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (DASA) of the Illinois Department of Human Services.
2. Heroin, which is the second greatest threat, with levels of sale and abuse rising rapidly year on year. Heroin is making a resurgence and is becoming particularly popular in suburban areas. People here mainly travel to the West Side of Chicago in order to purchase their substance.
3. Meth, which is not as significant an issue as it is in other parts of the country. However, outlaw motorcycle gangs seem to have increased their manufacturing abilities, and the drug is being distributed more regularly.
4. Club drugs, which are becoming more and more popular for their stimulating and hallucinogenic effects. While club drugs are not manufactured in Chicago, dealers take advantage of the large international transportation network to smuggle the drugs in.
5. Cannabis, which is widely available and equally widely abused. Cannabis abuse is indiscriminate of age, race, or socioeconomic status. There is also a concern about the fact that cannabis is grown locally, making it more readily available and affordable.

The DASA Approach

DASA is very concerned about the levels of substance abuse and addiction in Chicago. As a result, they have put a number of efforts in place to try to improve the situation, including:

• Childcare residential facilities for those requiring detox or rehab but who have parenting responsibilities
• Case management - working together with patients to improve outcomes
• Detox for those who are ready to become clean and sober
• Community intervention efforts, helping members of the community find positive alternatives to gang life and substance abuse
• Counseling and HIV testing, which is offered to all drug users, but particularly those who use intravenous drugs
• (Intensive) outpatient rehab services, where people can be counseled back to health
• Residential rehab services, including extended services for those with more serious addictions, or those who have relapsed before.
• The DASA Early Intervention program, targeted at young people and those who have just come into contact with substances.
• Toxicology, which is offered in partnership with the criminal justice system, in an effort to determine which drugs are hitting the streets, and how dangerous they are.