When the OxyContin pill mills started to be shut down, and Purdue Pharma and the Sackler Family finally started to see some justice, Ohio breathed a collective sigh of relief. Of course, no one thought opioid addiction was over —- but it seemed like things were beginning to get better. Then, we all learned about fentanyl.
This Redemption Recovery article discusses opioid addiction in Ohio, how fentanyl has changed drug treatment, and how Ohio is fighting for its life.
Opioid Addiction in Ohio: How Did We Get Here?
Like most Rust Belt states, Ohio was hit harder by the opioid crisis than much of the rest of America. We now know that the people who made OxyContin deliberately targeted Ohio.
They saw people who worked hard to earn a living by the sweat of their brow. Men and women who often broke their bodies to put food on the table and paid the price.
Back injuries, neck injuries, workplace accidents, and chronic pain—to most Ohioans, these are some of the hardships often faced by blue-collar folks. But some in the pharmaceutical industry just saw dollar signs.
Big Pharma Ignites the Painkiller Epidemic in Ohio
The combination of unemployment and underemployment, depression and anxiety and the prospect of Union prescription drug plans drew the Sacklers to Ohio like vultures.
That’s not to say Purdue Pharma introduced Ohio to opioids. They didn’t, but painkiller addiction was not rampaging across Ohio like wildfire before Purdue Pharma manipulated the rules and influenced doctors to overprescribe using phony studies and misinformation.
Anyone who has any doubts about Purdue Pharma’s culpability has only to look at the $24.7 million settlement negotiated by our Attorney General.
Fentanyl in Ohio: Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire
Some of you may have seen one or both fictionalized accounts about the OxyContin crisis. Hulu’s was called Dopesick, followed by Netflix’s Painkiller. If you haven’t seen them, we recommend watching them—with a warning. They include some very graphic depictions that could trigger or upset some people.
The Frying Pan
Both mini-series do a pretty solid job of painting a realistic, if abbreviated, picture of how the drug companies got America hooked on powerful narcotic painkillers. They also illustrate how the Attorney’s General in several states worked with local law enforcement, the DEA, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to unravel the mess and finally stop the nightmare. The mini-series doesn’t get into what happened next, though.
The Fire
Illegally obtained OxyContin and other prescription opioids began to dry up, as expected. Ohio doctors became a lot more selective about prescribing, too. But, millions of Ohioans were still addicted to opioids. Many went to rehab in Ohio or entered a harm reduction program. But many more sadly turned to heroin and fentanyl. Organized crime saw an opening and capitalized on it.
The number of fentanyl seizures by U.S. law enforcement grew by more than 1700% between 2017 and 2023. That’s not a typo. There’s been a roughly 17-fold increase in the amount of fentanyl on the streets of Ohio. Remember, fentanyl is not found just in heroin anymore. A lot of it is being made into fake painkiller tablets and even mixed into everything from molly to cocaine and meth.
Retribution, Redemption, and Recovery for Ohio
Let’s be honest. The $24.7 million settlement from Purdue Pharma for their role in Ohio’s opioid addiction epidemic was kind of a drop in the bucket. If you ask us, given the profits made and the damage done, it should have been at least ten times that amount. But it’s not chump change, and it’s not the only funding coming to help Ohio fight opioid addiction.
In all, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has managed to secure $679.6 million in settlements to help fund drug education, harm reduction, and opioid addiction treatment in Ohio. Purdue Pharma didn’t create the painkiller addiction crisis alone. Other drug makers and America’s two largest pharmacy chains, CVS and Walgreens, are all pitching in big time.
How Ohio is Fighting Back Against Opioid Addiction
The settlement money isn’t coming in one giant check —- but to its credit, Ohio’s state government got to work right away after receiving the first $20 million check. Much of the funding will go to the Ohio Mental Health & Addiction Services Department.
Substance Use Disorders.
From there, it’s being used to fund educational programs to help prevent addiction, state-funded drug rehabs for people in need, Suboxone (buprenorphine) programs, NARCAN kits, and other harm reduction measures.
Of course, that’s just brushing the surface of what the State of Ohio is doing about opioid addiction. There are also tremendous efforts being made every day at Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP), Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) and Outpatient Programs in Ohio like ours.
Some ways Ohio is fighting back against opioid addiction:
- Our Attorney General fighting drug companies and pharmacies in court.
- Using settlement money to fund state addiction programs.
- Expanding addiction prevention and harm reduction programs.
- People like you fighting their own personal addiction battles.
Help for Substance Use Disorders in Ohio
I Need Addiction Treatment in Ohio for Myself
If you’re tired of wrestling with addiction, Redemption Recovery is ready to give you a hand. We’re not about to tell you that recovering from addiction is easy. It’s not. But you’re stronger than you think. Being in our line of work, we have seen more than a few miracles here. People who almost no one believed could get sober and stay sober —- but they defied all the odds. We have everything you need to do a 180 and turn your life around. The only thing we can’t do for you is make that first phone call. That’s on you.
My Loved One Needs Addiction Treatment in Ohio
Watching a loved one spiral into addiction is torture. We get it. Many of us have either seen our own loved ones struggle with addiction or are in long-term recovery ourselves. Call us at (419) 528-8007, even if your loved one isn’t ready or willing to go to rehab in Ohio yet.
We can help you plan their treatment and connect you with professional addiction interventionists in Ohio. If you’re not ready to talk on the phone, you can submit your insurance here, and we’ll reach out to you later to let you know what’s covered so you can decide what to do next.
I’m Not Sure I’m Ready for Rehab in Ohio —- Can I Just Go To Some Meetings?
Only you can decide when you’re ready for treatment. We’ll just say this: Have you ever heard of someone getting ‘too much help’ for a problem? Of course, the answer is no. All we ask is that you be honest with yourself. Are meetings really going to be enough to help you get sober and stay sober? If so, you can find AA meetings in Ohio here, and Ohio NA meetings are here.
If you are on the fence about treatment, give us a call. Let’s talk about it. Most of us here are in recovery or have loved ones who have faced addiction. We won’t pressure you to go to treatment —- that’s up to you. Even if all you do today is make that call, you’ve taken one step toward recovery.
I Need Help With Addiction, But Don’t Have Private Insurance or Money
Good news: If you or someone you love needs rehab in Ohio and doesn’t have insurance from a job or a way to pay, Ohio’s state-funded addiction programs benefit from the drug settlement funding. Check the SAMHSA website for state-funded programs in Ohio (there are lots). You may also qualify for Ohio Medicaid (MyCare Ohio or OhioRISE), which can help.
Ohio Fights Opioid Addiction at Redemption Recovery
You or your loved one deserves the best chance at recovery. At Redemption Recovery, we aim to make that a reality by offering a safe environment where you will be equipped with the necessary tools for successful recovery. We are prepared to assist you in taking the first step towards a new life filled with health, happiness, and freedom from addiction.
Our team of addiction experts is here to help — but it’s up to you to call.
One phone call can change the road you’re on.
It’s time for Redemption: (419) 528-8007
