Addiction In Richland County, Ohio

Richland County sits in the center of northcentral Ohio and had a population of 124,936 as of 2020. Richland County is a great place to live and raise a family. Richland County, and the county seat, Mansfield in particular, has seen something of a renaissance in recent years after several decades of economic downturn. Live music at The Brickyard, an outdoor amphitheater is a popular activity for locals and visitors alike.  

At least half of Richland County residents live in the county seat of Mansfield, Ohio, or surrounding areas. This makes the Mansfield metro area the regional population hub. Unfortunately, this also means Mansfield is the epicenter of the opioid epidemic for Richland County. Fortunately, there is no shortage of recovery help and addiction treatment in Richland County and surrounding areas.  

State of Ohio Addiction Statistics

• • In 2007, drug overdose became the #1 cause of death in Ohio, and it still is. 

• • In 2020, Ohio saw 5,017 drug overdose deaths, the highest number so far.

• • Fentanyl was involved in 81% of overdose deaths in 2020, up from 76% in 2019. 

• • Carfentanil was involved in 161 fentanyl-related overdose deaths in Ohio, in  2020.

• • Project DAWN (Deaths Avoided With Naloxone) has distributed 90,000 NARCAN kits since 2014.

• • The 90,000 NARCAN kits distributed by DAWN have been used in approximately 11,000 overdose reversals since 2014. 

Richland County, Ohio Addiction Statistics

• • The Richland County Opiate Board responded to 653 opioid overdose incidents in Mansfield, OH alone between 2017 and 2023. 

• • Approximately 2,246 people in Richland County received addiction treatment in 2022.

• • There are more than 60 Narcotics Anonymous meetings every week in Mansfield, OH.

• • Richland County, OH has more than 200 Narcotics Anonymous meetings a week. 

Sources: Ohio Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control, The Richland County Opiate Board, and the Ohio Regional Service Committee of Narcotics Anonymous (ORSCNA)

Reasons For Hope In Richland County’s War On Addiction

While the war on addiction rages on and Ohio opioid overdose deaths continue to be a serious problem, there are some good reasons to have hope. According to data gathered by The Richland County Opiate Board and the Ohio Department of Health, the number of hospital admissions for overdose dropped by 17% between 2021 and 2022. While 2023 stats aren’t in yet, it appears we will see a modest drop from 2022 numbers.

Grassroots and state-supported efforts to fight addiction and promote recovery in Richland County and Ohio as a whole are strong. Since Ohio was on the front lines of both the OxyContin and fentanyl crises, it is also among the states that have mounted the strongest resistance against opioid addiction. Organizations like Project Dawn (Deaths Avoided With Naloxone) have saved countless lives through direct and indirect interventions and support. 

$24.7 Million For Opioid Addiction In Richland County And The Rest of Ohio

The number of resources for addiction treatment in Richland County and surrounding areas has also grown a great deal since Ohio filed suit against Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, in 2017. Ohio was one of the states hit the hardest by Purdue Pharma’s callous pursuit of profit with complete disregard for the consequences. 

Ultimately the state received a $24.7 million settlement. While no one can put a price tag on the lives lost due to Ohio’s opioid crisis, these funds have already gone a long way toward providing addiction treatment, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and harm reduction measures for Ohioans. 

Recent Statewide Progress

Ohio experienced a dramatic 35% decline in drug overdose deaths in 2024, placing it among the states with the most significant reductions nationwide. The state’s 2023 data showed 4,452 unintentional drug overdose deaths, representing a 9% decrease from 2022 and the second consecutive year of reductions. This improvement reflects the effectiveness of expanded naloxone distribution, treatment programs, and intervention strategies implemented across Ohio.

Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, 2024 Provisional Data; Ohio Department of Health 2023 Unintentional Drug Overdose Annual Report

Addiction Treatment in Richland County, Ohio

If you or someone you care about is struggling with addiction with Opioids or Amphetamines in Richland County, there are many drug and alcohol addiction helplines in Ohio that can help point you in the right direction. Redemption Recovery Group offers a comprehensive addiction treatment program right here in Richland County that includes dual-diagnosis care for any co-occurring mental health disorders. 

Redemption Recovery can help you or the one you love turn the page on addiction for good. The only catch is that you have to make the call. We can’t help if you don’t call. Learn more about our range of treatment options from partial hospitalization programs (PHP) to intensive outpatient programs (IOP) and outpatient programs in Ohio. 

Change begins with action. Call (419) 528-8007 to get started today.