Getting Help at The Recovery Village Columbus

Opioid addiction often starts with a prescription for pain medication. As your body becomes dependent on it to function, you may find you’d do anything to take more.  According to the Ohio Department of Health, 2020 surpassed 2017 as the year with the most unintentional drug overdose deaths in Ohio, with many of these deaths attributed to opioids. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost also says that Ohioans are dying at a devastating rate because of opioid overdoses.

Opioid overdoses have taken thousands of lives, but evidence-based addiction treatment saves lives and can help you start a new life in recovery.

Opioid Abuse Statistics in Ohio

As of 2020, there were 47,820 opioid prescriptions written for every 100,000 residents in Franklin County, Ohio. In 2018, Ohio doctors wrote 53.5 opioid prescriptions for every 100 residents, which is above the national average of 51.4 per 100.

Consider these statistics as well:

• In 2019 alone, the opioid fentanyl was involved in 76% of all overdose deaths in Ohio.
• Ohio’s rate of babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome/neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome was 11.6 incidents per 1,000 hospital births, compared to seven per 1,000 births nationwide. 
• Data from the Franklin County Coroner’s Office shows 855 overdose deaths in the county in 2020, representing an increase of 83.9% since 2017. 

Of the 855 overdose deaths in Franklin County in 2020, 87% involved the synthetic opioid, fentanyl. This rate represents an increase that has occurred over the last four years.

About Opioid Addiction

How Opioid Addiction Happens

Opiates and opioids are highly addictive drugs, and the risk of addiction increases when people misuse them. However, even prescription opioids can become problematic. 

As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains, up to one-fourth of people with long-term opioid prescriptions from a primary care provider struggle with an opioid use disorder.

People who are addicted to opioids and opiates will continue to take the drugs despite understanding the negative consequences. In many cases, the drug stops providing pleasure. Someone with an opioid use disorder takes the drug because they have become physically dependent and want to avoid uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.

People who are addicted to prescription opioids may engage in a practice called “doctor shopping,” in which they go to various doctors, seeking out more prescriptions. When prescriptions run out, people may turn to street-level drug dealers or begin using heroin, because it can be cheaper and easier to obtain on the street. In fact, about 80% of heroin users report that they began with prescription opioids before moving on to heroin. 

Common Signs of Opioid Addiction

How can you tell if you or someone you love is addicted to opioids? 

There are several common signs of opioid addiction:

Continue reading at Signs, Symptoms and Side Effects of Opioid Abuse → 

FAQs About Opioid & Opiate Addiction

What is considered an opioid?

Opioids and opiates are drugs that slow down the activity of the nervous system, which decreases pain and affects breathing. Common opioids include heroin, oxycodone (Percocet, Percodan, OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab, Norco), fentanyl, hydromorphone (Dilaudid), buprenorphine (Subutex, Suboxone), codeine, methadone, morphine, and tramadol (Ultram).

Why Are Opiates Addictive?

When someone uses opioids, the drug binds to the brain’s opioid receptors, which then triggers the release of feel-good chemicals, eventually causing the brain to seek out these substances again. The reaction that opioids cause in the brain creates a reduction in pain and an overall feeling of relaxation. People with an opioid use disorder take drugs repeatedly to achieve these same effects, but the body becomes dependent over time. 

How bad is the opioid epidemic in Ohio?

Multiple sources show that Ohio’s opioid epidemic is worsening. For instance, data from Franklin County Coroner’s Office shows that overdose deaths are increasing, with most overdoses involving the synthetic opioid, fentanyl. Ohio’s rate of opioid prescriptions exceeds the national average, as does the rate of babies born addicted to opioids. 

Are opioids legal in Ohio?

Opioid drugs like Vicodin and OxyContin are only legal with a prescription from a doctor, but some people may buy these drugs illegally from drug dealers, take prescriptions that belong to someone else, or misuse their own prescriptions. The opioid drug heroin is a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance, making it illegal in Ohio and across the nation, as the Federal government declares that it is highly addictive and has no medical use. 

Are you at risk for opioid addiction?

Anyone can develop an opioid use disorder, especially if they misuse their prescription drugs, but certain risk factors can make addiction more likely. Research suggests that history of addiction, untreated mental health disorders and social or family environments that encourage drug use can also increase the risk of opioid addiction. For example, you may be at greater risk if your friends or family members misuse opioids.