Select a city or enter your desired location into the search bar for help.

The "Gateway to the West", Ohio sits on the route between two of the country's largest drug distribution hubs, New York City and Chicago. Consider the smuggling options in Ohio: 113,823 miles of highway, 6,140 miles of railroad track, three international airports, and Lake Erie ports providing shipping through the St. Lawrence Seaway out to the Atlantic.
Even with all this methods of delivery, Ohio residents' past-month use of illicit drugs is equal to the national average of 8% says the White House's Ohio Drug Control Update. However, one disturbing statistic for Buckeye Staters is the number of drug-related deaths. The number of deaths from drug poisonings (1,691) in 2007 exceeded that of vehicle deaths (1,399).
Cocaine Addiction
Though cocaine remains the greatest threat to law enforcement, it's not among the most addictive drugs in Ohio. Admissions to Ohio treatment centers for cocaine addiction ranked fourth with less than 4,000 admissions in 2010, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
However, cocaine is associated with violent crime, and it's frequently trafficked in large quantities through the state. Ohio State Highway Patrol recently seized $14.8 million in cocaine from a California-registered motor home near Toledo.
Club Drugs Addiction
Club drugs such as MDMA, GHB, GBL, Pohypnol, Ketamine and LSD are popular with teenagers and young adults in Ohio. Though these synthetic drugs can primarily be found in cities with colleges such as Columbus, they are also prevalent in rural areas.

Many of these drugs, particularly MDMA and GHB, are smuggled into the airports via European countries such as Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.

Contrary to belief by their users, club drugs can be addictive, though treatment numbers did not even register at Ohio addiction centers.

Heroin Addiction
One of the most addictive drugs is also one of the most pervasive in Ohio, particularly with teenagers. According to one article, the drug of choice for 13 to 15-year-olds is now heroin. A bag of heroin costs $10 while oxycodone pills run from $40 to $75.

Heroin-related deaths spread to 18 new Ohio counties from 2004 to 2007, according to a New York Times article. And over 5,000 residents sought help in an Ohio addiction treatment center in 2010, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

 

Methamphetamine Addiction
Meth in Ohio is produced primarily by local criminal groups and outlaw motorcycle gangs. It's easy to make, cheap and highly profitable for the manufacturers. For the users, it's highly addictive.

Meth lab seizures in Ohio increased from 167 incidents in 2007 to 305 incidents in 2009, according to the El Paso Intelligence Center's National Seizure System.  

Though meth abuse slowly kills its users, the number of patients in Ohio treatment centers for meth abuse is about 1% of all admissions.

Marijuana Addiction
Surprisingly, marijuana is the #1 drug for treatment admittances to Ohio addiction centers, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. In most states, this distinction falls to heroin. Many of these admittances (59% in 2007) were a result of the Ohio criminal justice system allowing for treatment instead of jail time.

Prescription Drug Addiction
Prescription drug abuse in Ohio probably won't decline anytime soon. These drugs are just too easy to obtain whether it's from prescription fraud, doctor shopping, or illegal online "pharmacies".

The most common drugs are Oxycontin, Vicodin, methadone and fentanyl. These are also the most deadly for Ohioans. The state's death rate for unintentional drug poisonings increased 335% from 1999 to 2009 largely from prescription drug overdoses, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

Ohio addiction treatment centers have seen a 300% increase for non-heroin opioid (painkillers) abuse.

Ohio Drug Laws
According to the website drugpossessionlaws.com, Ohio drug laws are very complex, prescribing penalties based on the "bulk amount" of the particular drug. "The penalty and charge you face, therefore, depends on the substance and the bulk amount as prescribed by law."

Ohio also has a "drugged driving" law (DUID) that says you can't operate any vehicle under the influence of any illicit drug including marijuana.

Ohio Addiction Treatment Centers
Ohio is home to nearly 400 addiction treatment centers with over 35,000 patients seeking treatment annually, according to the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services.

The majority (81%) are private, non-profit facilities. A small amount (13%) are operated by state, local and federal government. The remainder are private, for-profit facilities. Some 92% enroll in outpatient treatment with the rest enrolling in residential or hospital treatment programs.

In the majority of Ohio addiction treatment centers, you'll find the following services offered:

  • Individual, group and family counseling
  • Case management
  • Social skills development
  • Substance abuse education
  • Mental health services
  • Relapse prevention
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy
  • 12-step facilitation
  • Motivational interviewing
  • Anger management
  • Trauma-related counseling
  • Discharge planning
  • Continuing care

For information on treatment centers, see "How to Select an Addiction Recovery Treatment Center."  Not quite sure about addiction treatment? Read our "First Steps" article.