Ohio

As a state, Ohio has a high number of drug issues and drug addiction problems. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that during 2007-2008, Ohio was one of the top 10 states for rates in several drug use categories. These categories include: past-year nonmedical use of pain relievers among young adults age 18 to 25, and illicit drug dependence among young adults age 18 to 25. An additional drug issue in Ohio is meth labs. The number of meth lab seizures in the state of Ohio increased 83%; from 167 incidents in 2007 to 305 incidents in 2009 (according to data from the El Paso Intelligence Center’s National Seizure System). While the state has numerous drug issues and problems, their rate of past-month illicit drug use was the same as the national average, 8%. Additionally, 3.3% of Ohio residents reported using an illicit drug other than marijuana in the past month (the national average was 3.58 percent). During 2007, 1,691 people died in Ohio as a direct consequence of drug use, abuse or addiction problems. In comparison, 1,399 people died in Ohio due to care accidents and 1,105 due to firearms in the same year. Ohio drug-induced deaths (14.7 per 100,000 population) exceeded the national rate (12.7 per 100,000). In 2006, Ohio created a state prescription drug monitoring program named Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System. This program’s goal is to assist healthcare professionals in providing better treatment for patients with medical needs while quickly identifying drug seeking behaviors. Obtaining an Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System report assures the medical professionals and the patient that the appropriate drug therapy is being prescribed and is being taken according to the directions.

Treatment Episode Data Set survey of Ohio drug rehab admissions during 2010 showed that marijuana was the most commonly cited drug at the time of enrollment. Marijuana was followed by heroin, other opiates, cocaine, other/unknown, tranquilizers, PCP, sedatives, inhalants and hallucinogens. While many Ohio residents are receiving drug rehab treatment, there are more living in the state that need care but are not receiving it. This may be due to many factors: the expense of drug rehab, the stigma attached to drug rehab, the time needed to complete drug rehab or the fact that getting off drugs and living drug-free is a hard change to make in one’s life. While all these reasons are valid, they do not compare to the substantial benefits a person receives by completing treatment. Getting the chance to experience living a healthy, happy life where drugs and alcohol no longer control one’s thoughts, feelings and actions cannot be described in words. There is such freedom and self-confidence in knowing that as a recovered drug addict you now have all the life skills and techniques necessary to remain sober.