Substance abuse in the US has recently been on the increase and Ohio fares much worse than other states. On the surface, it might seem that addiction and substance abuse are individual or family problems but the larger society and community are also affected. Society loses in terms of lost work productivity, increased healthcare costs, and crime.
Substance Abuse in Ohio
Ohio has consistently ranked high when it comes to substance abuse. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the state has the 4th highest drug overdose rate in the country, higher than the national average.
Let’s take a look at some of the commonly used substances in Ohio:
Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol abuse is on the rise in Ohio with more than 500,000 residents or 5.1% of the population struggling with alcohol use disorder. This trend is more pronounced in younger age groups with 38.9% of those aged 18-25 reporting that they had binged in the past month and 10.1% of the same age group dealing with alcohol addiction.
Opioid Addiction
Deaths linked to opioid overdose in Ohio have increased by 40% from 29.9 per 100,000 residents to 47.2 in 2020, making this one of the highest in the country. The prevalence of opioid addiction in Ohio is double the national average with the most commonly abused opioids being Methadone, OxyContin, Oxycodone, Morphine, and Fentanyl.
Marijuana
Recreational marijuana use remains illegal in Ohio but that hasn’t stopped some residents from taking the drug. Marijuana use has increased in the state since the early 2000s. According to the Ohio Behavioral Health Barometer, the annual average prevalence from 2017-2019 was 15.0%, representing 1.5 million residents. 6.6% of those in the 12-17 year age group reported using marijuana in the past month alone.
Other commonly abused substances in Ohio include hallucinogens, inhalants, and benzodiazepines.
Substance use disorder is on the increase in the younger population in Ohio and this is a cause for alarm. While some of these individuals start taking drugs or alcohol out of curiosity, some of them do end up addicted, exposing themselves to adverse health effects from a young age.
The good news is that there’s more awareness about alcohol and substance abuse and with more people seeking help, there’re more addiction treatment options available.
Help is Available at Findlay Recovery Center in Ohio
If you or your family member is struggling with substance abuse in Ohio, help is available.
At the Findlay Recovery Center, we strive to provide affordable drug and alcohol treatment services for all those in need. We offer both residential treatment as well as outpatient treatment to suit our clients’ needs. All our treatment programs are based on personalized treatment with a focus on individual recovery goals. We realize that treatment doesn’t end when you leave residential care so we organize to have clients join sober living homes to help them get on their feet. Contact us for more information about our addiction treatment programs.