Because of the drug crisis in the US, Ohio has had to deal with a lot of problems. The state had the second-highest number of drug overdose deaths in the country in 2020, with a total of 5,215 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Even so, not all parts of Ohio have the same drug problems. Some places have a higher rate of drug use and overdoses than others.
The Ohio city with the most drug use
According to a study by American Addiction Centers, a well-known addiction treatment center, Omaha is the Ohio city where drug use is having the most serious effects. This research looked at 51 big cities in the US and found out what percentage of people lived there had tried drugs like marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine. The study also gave each drug a weighted number based on how bad it was and how much harm it could cause.
Over 60% of people who live in Omaha have tried marijuana at least once, making it the city with the highest rate of marijuana use in the country. Additionally, 3.4% of people in Omaha and Indianapolis had used heroin, making them the cities with the highest rates of heroin use. The city also had high rates of cocaine and methamphetamine use, coming third and fourth among the cities that were looked at.
Based on the study’s full analysis, Omaha was found to have the worst drug problems of any city in the United States. Wichita, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Mesa all tied for second place and came in close behind.
The Ohio county with the most drug overdoses
To get a sense of Ohio’s drug problem, look at the death rates from drug overdoses by county. Ohio Department of Health data shows that Scioto County had the highest overdose death rate in the state in 2020, with 130.1 deaths per 100,000 people. This was the highest rate ever recorded in Ohio.
In Scioto County, Portsmouth is located. This city has earned the unfortunate moniker of the “pill mill of America” from public health professionals. Portsmouth used to be a town that was very successful in industry, but in recent decades it has become less prosperous and less socially stable.
It turned into a place where people abused prescription opioids, stole them, and sold heroin and fentanyl. A lot of the people that lived there became addicted to painkillers and other drugs, which led to very high rates of overdoses and deaths.
With a death rate of 93.8 per 100,000 people in 2020, Montgomery County came in second, just behind Scioto County. The drug crisis has also had a big effect on Dayton, which is in Montgomery County. It had the sad honor of having the highest number of overdose deaths among major U.S. cities in 2016.
Since then, Dayton has taken many steps to fight the problem, such as making it easier for people to get naloxone, a drug that can reverse opioid overdoses, and setting up a community-based response team to help people who have experienced overdoses and give them information about other resources.
Things that make Ohio’s drug problems worse
There are many things that affect how common drug troubles are in Ohio’s cities and counties, such as:
- Social and economic status: Being poor, unemployed, or not having many chances can make people and communities more likely to use drugs and become addicted.
- Availability and Accessibility: The amount of drugs available and how easy they are to get can have a big effect on drug use and overdose rates. Some places have more sources and sellers of drugs, which makes them easier to get.
- Protection and Treatment: The amount and quality of protection and treatment services can affect how many drugs are used and how many people die. Drug-related problems may be less common in places with more resources and programs to stop drug abuse and help people who are addicted.
- Enforcement and Regulation: The amount and efficiency of drug laws and enforcement can also change the number of drug overdoses and people who use drugs. Drug-related crimes may go down and legal drug distribution may be easier to control in places where rules and policies are stricter and more uniform.
In conclusion
In many Ohio towns and counties, drug abuse is a very big problem. However, the problem’s seriousness changes depending on a number of signs and factors. Because so many people in Omaha use drugs like marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine, new data and studies show that it is the most affected place in Ohio.
Scioto County is the most impacted county in Ohio because of the high number of deaths from opioid and other drug overdoses. To deal with their drug problems and lessen their negative effects, these places need more help and attention from public health officials and other interested parties.