Addiction is a prevalent issue in the state of Ohio and nationally that sucks the life out of it's victims.

"Knowing how it affects families, knowing how it affects individuals every aspect of someone's life and their family's life I think it's important that there's opportunities to help," Erin Klein, Community Outreach Coordinator at Brightview Health Youngstown Addiction Treatment Center said.

Opioid use disorder is the nation's fastest growing drug abuse, including in Ohio, with opioid misuse affecting twice the national average, according to statistics from White Light Behavioral Health.

Brightview Health Youngstown Addiction Treatment Center has been a beacon of hope for more than 900 people, including Pastor Duane Turnage who said he was prescribed opioids for a back injury and before he knew it, he had an addiction.

"It was a horrible experience," Turnage said. "I was sick, I didn't know what to do," he said.

However, he didn't have to deal with it alone.

"This organization Brightview, it literally saved my life," Turnage said. "Not just giving me medications, but the counseling and to be in an environment where people understood you and didn't judge you," he said.

Turnage said it took him about a year to fully recover and now he tells his story to help others.

"Many people make a mistake of thinking 'I can't tell anyone, you know, shame comes in so now you're struggling with a problem thinking you're by yourself,'" Turnage said. "Everybody has a problem and I stand in a pulpit and the last thing I wanna do is stand there and act like I'm problem free. There's nothing to be ashamed of, hiding it is a prison," he said.

Turnage's message to anyone struggling with addiction is to seek help and rely on faith when it gets rough.

"I preach the gospel and I preach the power of God, but we have to be transparent and tell our stories so that people in those situations can know there's a way out," Turnage said. "Find a good place to worship God and know that God loves you wherever you are," he said.

Klein said she knows what it's like to deal with addiction in the home and she's passionate about helping to restore those who struggle with it.

"It affects everybody you know, and I'm 39 years old so I know how it affects kids, growing up there are people who have loved ones that are struggling with addiction and I just think it's really important work to be able to give someone their Dad back, give someone their brother back, give someone their cousin back," said Klein. "Ten, twelve years ago looking up addiction agencies for family members of mine it was hard to find and I feel like I wish a Brightview existed here in this area 10 years ago," she said.

Brightview offers group therapy, counseling and other addiction recovery resources.

If you or someone you know is suffering from addiction, Klein said you can come right into Brightview and begin your road to recovery same day.

You can reach Brightview at (866) 934-7450 or visit at 930 Trailwood Drive in Boardman. There are also locations in Warren, Kent and Akron.