Drug Abuse, Addiction and Treatment and Rehabilitation Situation in
Ohio
Like all other states, Ohio has not been immune from the epidemic of drug trafficking.
Cocaine, marijuana, club drugs, methamphetamine and heroin continue to be widely
abused and are readily available in most cities and towns in Ohio. Associated
with the drug trafficking is gang related violence, crime, homicides, thefts,
prostitution and money laundering. Law enforcement seizures of drugs and individuals
indicate that at all levels; the new generation of addicts involves all ethnic
groups and much younger age groups. The majority of illicit drugs are brought
in from Mexico and Columbia.
The one locally made drug is marijuana; the moderate climate and large areas
of grassland has not gone unnoticed by the drug traffickers. While methamphetamine
laboratories are few and far between, the smuggled variety is on the rise.
Cocaine
Addiction
Cocaine HCl and crack combined are a major problem in the state of Ohio. The
majority of cocaine is smuggled in to Ohio from the South, inducing California,
Arizona, Florida, New York and Texas. Chicago appears to be the major transit
zone for shipment of most drugs to the state of Ohio. The cocaine trade is controlled
by both the Dominican and Mexican cartels. Seizures along the highways indicate
that smugglers routinely use private automobile with hidden compartments to
bring the drugs into Ohio. On the streets, the cocaine trade is controlled by
ethnic gangs who are integrated into the Mexican Mafia. The majority of powder
cocaine is converted to crack before distribution.
Heroin Addiction
Ohio is the one state where the heroin abuse in on the rise. The Ohio Department
of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services data estimates that hospital admissions
and emergency room visits have increased significantly from the use of heroin.
The majority of heroin is from Mexico but recent seizures indicate that Colombian,
SE Asian and even Afghan heroin is commonly available in Ohio. The heroin drug
trade is controlled by the same drug cartels who control cocaine. The heroin
is mostly brought in from the nearby larger cities such as NY, Philadelphia,
Chicago, and Detroit and even as far away as Houston. Despite the increased
security since 9/11, heroin smuggling via the air route has continued unabated.
Once brought into Ohio, the heroin is repackaged and distributed on the street
by various groups.
These street gang are not averse to using violence to protect their territory.
Methamphetamine
Addiction
Locally manufactured methamphetamine has decreased since the legislation barred
the use of ephedrine in cough mixtures. Despite this setback, clandestine laboratories
continue to operate all over the state producing low levels of methamphetamine.
The major source of methamphetamine is from other states like California and
New York. The Mexican cartels control the methamphetamine trade and on the street
combine with motor cycle gangs to help distribute it. The large
population has also been used by the Mexican mafia to assist with the distribution
of the drug.
Club
Drugs
The use of Club Drugs such as Ecstasy (MDMA), GHB, Ketamine, PCP and LSD has
gradually increased in Ohio. Club Drugs are the drugs of choice at night clubs
and raves and are predominantly abused by young adults and college students.
MDMA remains the drug of choice at rave parties. The majority of club drugs
are smuggled into the State from outside US. Europe has become a favorite place
from where these drugs originate. The drugs are either smuggled in via air or
via the Parcel post services. With the long porous border to the North, Canada
has also become a major source of MDMA into Ohio. The club drug trade is loosely
controlled by all ethnic groups. Despite each pill costing about $20, these
drugs account for a majority of the illicit drug business.
Marijuana Addiction
Marijuana continues to be the most widely abused and readily available illicit
drug throughout the state of Ohio. The available supply of marijuana ranges
from ounces to kilograms. The rural areas of Ohio provide an adequate environment
for the indoor and outdoor cultivation of cannabis. The use of hydroponics and
other sophisticated indoor growing techniques produce a more potent form of
marijuana. Mexican marijuana is the most commonly seized in the state of Ohio.
The marijuana is shipped from Texas and Arizona. Large quantities are shipped
into Ohio via the interstates and smaller quantities are smuggled in via the
Parcel post service. Mexican criminal groups are the dominant wholesale suppliers
of marijuana in Ohio. Local independent criminal groups are also responsible
for shipping and distributing wholesale amounts of marijuana into Ohio. Despite
the soaring price of marijuana, the drug is still very commonly abused by all
ethnic groups and ages.
Prescription
Drug Addiction
Current investigations indicate that abuse of pharmaceutical products like
oxycodone, oxycontin, methadone, soma, valium, percocet and xanax continues
to be a problem in Ohio. The primary methods of obtaining these drugs is by
illegal sale and distribution by physicians/pharmacists, doctor shopping, forged
prescriptions pharmacy thefts and via the internet. The majority of these drugs
are smuggled in from other states. Pharmaceutical drugs were once only abused
by middle class Caucasians; now recent law enforcement data indicate that abuse
among different groups is starting to increase.
Since data tracking began, it is now becoming clear that overdoses and drug-related
deaths are not uncommon from the uncontrolled use of these drugs.
Addiction
Prevention
DEA Mobile Enforcement Teams have been established in response to the overwhelming
problem of drug-related violent crime in towns and cities across the nation.
In addition, DEA Regional Enforcement Teams were established to augment existing
DEA division resources by targeting drug organizations operating in the United
States where there is a lack of sufficient local drug law enforcement. This
program was conceived in 1999 in response to the threat posed by drug trafficking
organizations that have established networks of cells to conduct drug trafficking
operations in smaller, non-traditional trafficking locations in the United States.
Drug Laws
Despite the fact that Ohio law decriminilaizes marijuana for personal use,
it still ranks 35th in the nation in treatment spending and has wide racial
disparities in its prison system. There are more African-Americans/Hispanics
in Ohio prisons today than in Ohio colleges.
Ohio has made slight progress in providing treatment to drug offenders, but
Ohio is still in desperate need of drug reform to address drug abuse as a public
health rather than criminal justice issue, mitigate the racial disparities in
prison, and close the state's budget gap.
Ohio Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Rehabilitation Categories
