Death by Heroin: Ohio’s Heroin Epidemic

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Worse than a Horror Movie

Mark Twain once said “Truth is stranger than fiction”. He had no idea how horrifying life could be in the 21st Century under the influence of heroin and the destruction it creates for an entire state, here in the richest and most powerful country in history. Cold storage units are now sitting in the parking lots of hospitals, acting as temporary morgues due to the overflow of bodies and the hospital’s incapacity to store them. Grandparents have passed out in their car, as their grandchildren are found by police sitting in the backseat. Parents have died in their homes with their children unattended to for days. Toddlers have accidently swallowed their parent’s heroin.

It Gets Even Worse

The effects of heroin range from disorientation, heart attack, weight loss, HIV and AIDS, Hepatitis B and C and accidents. The worst outcome is death, and unfortunately, this occurs far too frequently in our state. One terrifying trend involves mixing other substances in heroin, producing a much more powerful effect. One of these substances in Fentanyl, and opioid pain medication that killed the pop star Prince. Fentanyl is similar to morphine, except it is between 50 to 100 times more potent. Another substance, Carfentanil, or “Elephant Tranquilizer” is a synthetic opioid drug that is used to sedate large animals. This substance is estimated to be 10,000 times more powerful than morphine and has claimed the lives of many people.

Why Ohio?

Many people ask me “Why is Ohio so plagued with heroin compared to other states?” There are many contributing factors that all come together to create the perfect storm. There were numerous medical clinics or “pill mills” throughout Southern Ohio where over-prescribing of opioid medications was taking place. These operations were shut down by the authorities and once the ample supply of pain medication dried up, people turned to a cheaper solution on the streets – heroin.

Physicians also played into the current heroin epidemic by prescribing or over-prescribing opioid medications to patients who were suffering with legitimate pain. As laws for prescribing opioids became tougher, physicians significantly reduce the number of prescriptions they would provide to patients. This lead many patients seeking pain medications to look elsewhere, but discovered that the price was very high. A 20 milligram OxyContin tablet sells for $20 on the street. A 60 milligram tablet – $60. Far too expensive for most people. A hit of heroin, on the other hand may cost $10-$15, much less expensive.

Another factor leading to Ohio’s heroin problem includes our very simple and effective highway system. US 23 runs from Columbus to Huntington and is one of the busiest drug routes in Ohio and the Tri-State area. Routes 71, 77 and 75 provide easy travel from North to South and US 70, as well as our Turnpike, provides easy travel from East to West. These freeway systems allow simple and effective transport of drugs of all sorts, including heroin. Supply, low cost, purity, Fentanyl and Carfentanil, and access throughout the state all lead to Ohio having one of the most horrifying heroin problems in the country.

What’s Being Done?

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office created a Heroin Unit to support prosecution of traffickers and dealers and to extend more awareness and education throughout the state. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission were also formed within the last couple years. New laws have been passed to criminalize heroin dealers. One such law is Casey’s Law which was passed in 2012. Its goals are to improve rehabilitation for heroin addicts. The Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System mandates patients receiving prescribed opioids to go through a more rigorous evaluation process. Minors cannot be issued any controlled substance without their parent’s consent under this system. Franklin Country was the first in Ohio to introduce a heroin-specific court – the Opiate Extension Program (OEP). People arrested for non-violent drug charges can go through the OEP and receive a reduced charge.

It will take much more than new laws and programs to combat the heroin epidemic. Law enforcement plays a key role in finding and arresting drug traffickers and dealers. They can help top reduce the flow, but heroin is still getting into our state. This is why we all must be aware of the signs and symptoms of heroin use and abuse. We should all support our local law enforcement and report anything we see in our communities. Becoming an advocate for prevention, treatments, and aftercare is important. It is also vital for us to encourage anyone using heroin or who is addicted to opioids to seek help immediately.

Final Comments on the Heroin Epidemic

“Death by Heroin”. Now that you know some of the statistics, read a few horror stories, and understand the scope of the heroin epidemic in Ohio a little more, the title should be rather fitting for this article. In many instances, heroin use leads to a battle for life or death. We’ve lost so many Ohioans already, and it is predicted that many more will end up in hospital morgues or the temporary refrigeration units in hospital parking lots. This is a frightening problem, and I know that all of our hearts go out to the parents who have lost a child, a couple who has lost a spouse, or anyone who has lost a friend to this terrible drug. After reading this article, please reflect on what you can do to fight this epidemic and save more Ohioans.

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