Ohio Reports Record-High for Heroin Overdoses: Decrease in Opioid Drug Overdoses

The Ohio State Department of Health reported a record number of heroin and opioid drug overdoses in 2012. Ohio is one of many states to report a growing epidemic of this type of drug use, which has spread throughout the entire United States.

Governors in the New England and Tri-State Areas are also concerned with their states' increasing number of heroin and opioid-related deaths. Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts urged legislators and the state health department to drastically improve the current state of affairs, especially for those who are addicted to these drugs.

The Ohio Health Department reported 680 deaths due to heroin overdoses in 2012, a number that is up 59% from 2011. These heroin overdoses accounted for more than half of the state's total fatal drug overdoses in 2012, which is also more than the 2011 numbers. The data is scheduled for release today.

Perhaps on the brighter side, the number of overdoses due to prescription opioid painkillers decreased in Ohio for the first time since 2003. Ohio, along with other states including Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and New York, issued a statewide surveillance program for these prescription drugs due to growing numbers in addiction and misuse.

The public health crisis was acknowledged and acted upon in 2011 when the state enacted a law that reduced the number of pills-on-demand clinics. These clinics were handing out pain pills to alleged addicts under "questionable circumstances," the Columbus Post reported. Additionally, the state instilled more strict prescription guidelines for painkillers.

The Health Department reported back in 2011 that an average of 59 painkillers were dispensed for every Ohio resident, leading to the eventual crackdown. But now, heroin overdoses are on the rise

"What we're seeing is a significant number of people moving to a more acute phase of their addiction disorder," said Orman Hall, director of the governor's cabinet opiate action team, via this SF Gate news article.

The state is likely to follow the lead of others in recent months after these horrid numbers are now available to the public. You can read more about Ohio's heroin issue in this Ohio Department of Health report.