Michigan is a state in the U.S. that has faced its share of trials in recent years. In the 1980’s, Michigan’s state capitol Detroit was a boom town of automobile manufacturers and the future looked endlessly bright for the industrial city. By the year 2000, however, American automobile sales were declining, and in 2007, the great recession of the United States housing market crash gave the automobile manufacturers of Detroit a fatal blow. Over the next few years, all of the large automobile manufacturers folded and their facilities were abandoned. What used to be the picture of industrial glory fell into ruin as the plant life, animal life and homeless population of Michigan moved into the abandoned structures. Since that time, Detroit has declared bankruptcy, leaving a population of over 680,000 without a budget for the most basic public services, such as a police and fire department that is anywhere near big enough to manage the city.

Because of the dilapidation of Detroit, mental health problems have risen immensely. The city has a long history of substance abuse problems and seasonal depression, due in part to the unforgiving winter conditions. When the city went bankrupt and the job and housing market tanked, the situation got much worse. Crime rose exponentially as well as addiction, substance abuse and mental disorders. The mental health treatment centers within the city were depleted of whatever government funding they had, but were experiencing higher volumes of clients than ever before. Amazingly, city services are still operating, despite being horribly overworked. Detroit residents are very loyal to their home city and a great many have stuck it out. There are still a few operating rehabilitation centers in Detroit for those who are struggling with addiction, or there are treatment facilities in neighboring cities such as Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids. If you are a Michigan resident struggling with addiction, there are are still private addiction treatment centers available to you if you reach out for them.