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Overdose deaths
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Overdose deaths
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Overdose deaths
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The Climb of Their Lives

Donations provide funding for treatment, housing, transportation, nutrition and personal hygiene needs for those who are climbing out of addiction.

Recent times have been hard on us all. Isolation, lack of work, job losses, housing difficulties, transportation issues, lack of access to healthcare, to food and other basic needs has adversely impacted the lives of many in our communities.

But this has particularly hurt those struggling with substance use disorder and mental health challenges. Many find their way to treatment and have the courage to show up but then are derailed because of barriers that stand in their way.

“Alone we can do so little;
together we can do so much.”

– Helen Keller

“It is literally true that you can succeed best
and quickest by helping others to succeed.”

– Napoleon Hill

Fund The Climb was founded to break down barriers by providing support for the critical needs of patients taking the courageous step towards recovery.

Nicole, a mother from Columbus, OH, recently transitioned out of inpatient services where she was for three months.

Because she was in treatment she had to stop working and therefore fell behind on her bills. Her landlord allowed her a grace period however she is facing eviction and is several months behind on her utility payments.

She is now living back at her home, and will start working again soon as a cosmetologist, while engaging in outpatient treatment. Nicole is excited about her sobriety and does not want the barrier of her housing accommodations to get in the way of her treatment.

Laura, a 61 year old mother in Columbus, lost her job due to the pandemic. Laura spent 35 years as a purchasing agent for a family owned company.


For years she has affectionately been known by those around her as “momma” and takes on the role of caring for others and imparting wisdom to those who will listen.


After her husband passed away in 2001, Laura has been the matriarch of her family. When she lost her job she began receiving unemployment benefits, but unfortunately has fallen behind on her utility payments,
as she is now facing shut off notices.


Laura has spent the last several months working a program to focus on her recovery, and she is hopeful
to find work again soon in the field that she is very passionate about.

Walter, a man from Columbus, had overdosed multiple times when his wife threatened to leave him if he didn’t get help. Walter sought treatment to save his marriage and family, and in working his program realized the gravity of his situation and the seriousness of his disease.

Walter felt much guilt because he could not work during his time in treatment, and his family was in need of food and other necessities. Fund The Climb Foundation was able to provide gift cards, which relieved the stress Walter was experiencing, allowing him to focus more fully on his recovery.

Walter is now sober, reunited with his family,
and working full time.

Recovery is Possible.

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Before and after: Photos chronicle an ex-heroin addict’s triumph over adversity

Once addicted to heroin, and with 17 felony convictions on her record, Ginny Burton has a message for those battling addiction or other life issues: It’s never too late to change.

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Michael’s Success Story

Michael’s substance misuse resulted in multiple overdoses and run-ins with the law. Today, he’s in recovery focusing on rebuilding relationships with his family and being a positive influence for his son.

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Robert Downey Jr’s Success Story

When you’re talking about famous addiction recovery stories, few have received more coverage than Robert Downey Jr’s. His journey to recovery is no secret, especially after his meteoric rise to popularity in Marvel’s Iron Man film series.

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Franklin County court program saves lives

When Ariel Slone got pulled over in Reynoldsburg in October 2021 for false license plates on her car, she had her two young sons with her as well as some cocaine and pills.

Slone said she had been using a variety of drugs for about five years to numb the pain while in an abusive relationship.

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Support for those seeking addiction treatment

Columbus City Council is providing $45,000 grant to Fund the Climb Foundation to assist patients in Franklinton and the surrounding areas who are seeking treatment for the disease of addiction and face barriers, such as lack of housing, transportation, and food. The goal is to give patients a fair chance to get the help they need.

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Franklin County addiction treatment ‘deserts’ highlighted by OSU research

Ohioans without opioid addiction treatment near home are less likely to maintain their sobriety, and Ohio State University researchers found these provider “deserts” throughout Franklin County.

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Drug overdose crisis: Franklin County 2021 deaths near record

Franklin County’s slight drop in drug overdose deaths in 2021 belies ongoing problem.

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The leading cause of death for new moms isn’t delivery complications. It’s substance abuse

The leading cause of death for Hoosier women in the year following childbirth isn’t a medical complication from the delivery: It’s substance use disorder.

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Fentanyl overdoses become No. 1 cause of death among US adults

Fentanyl overdoses have surged to the leading cause of death for adults between the ages of 18 and 45, according to an analysis of U.S. government data.

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The Goodness Tour: using art and music to help with recovery

They’re trying to recover from drug addiction and just finished a 10-day intense music and art therapy program with ‘The Goodness Tour.” It’s an organization dedicated to bringing art and music to people who are facing adversity.

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CDC: Overdose Deaths Up by a Third

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the latest data on reported deaths due to overdose within the 50 states and the District of Columbia. While final counts are not yet complete, 90,133 deaths occurred between February 2020 and February 2021, an increase of more than 30 percent over the previous year.

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More People Than Ever Died Of Drug Overdoses In The US In 2020

More than 93,000 people died of drug overdoses in 2020. “We are in an enduring crisis that is still going on. We are still right in the middle of it,” said one expert.

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DC chemist finds drug more potent than fentanyl that’s on city streets now

Chemist Alexandra Evans works at a syringe surveillance program for the D.C. Department of Forensic Sciences. As part of the program, she collects needles and substances their syringe exchange partners get from users throughout the city and test them to see what people are using in real time.