Article:
According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), while the overall opioid dispensing rates in the United States have reached a record low, more than two dozen counties in Ohio still experience higher usage of the addictive painkiller than the national average. This includes both larger counties such as Cuyahoga and Franklin, as well as several smaller counties across the state.

Using data from the CDC, Stacker and Ophelia analyzed the counties in every state with the highest opioid dispense rates. In Ohio, the opioid dispensing rate was found to be 47.4 per 100 people, slightly higher than the national average of 43.3, which is the lowest rate since 2006.

The CDC indicates that opioid usage tends to be prevalent in predominantly white towns and cities, which also tend to have a higher number of physicians per capita but also more uninsured individuals with diabetes, disabilities, or arthritis.

The devastating impact of opioid misuse is well-documented, with over 645,000 people dying from opioid-related overdoses between 1999 and 2021, and just under 80,000 deaths reported in 2022 alone, according to provisional data from the CDC.

However, there has been a significant decrease in opioid prescriptions over the past decade as healthcare providers and public health officials have become more aware of the dangers associated with medications such as OxyContin and other opioids used for pain management.

Each of the 50 states has implemented prescription drug monitoring programs to track patient prescription history, enabling healthcare professionals to identify patients at risk of misusing opioid medication. While the effectiveness of these programs is mixed, research suggests that physicians should focus on providing patients with treatments to mitigate dependence rather than solely avoiding opioid prescriptions.

A study conducted in 2022 and funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse discovered a correlation between higher dispensing rates and increased cases of opioid misuse and dependence. This study suggested that reducing opioid prescriptions at the local level could potentially lower a community's rate of opioid abuse.

However, other studies have raised concerns that the decrease in opioid prescriptions may have unintentionally contributed to a rise in synthetic opioids' popularity, such as fentanyl. In 2020, synthetics accounted for a staggering 82% of all opioid-related deaths.

The list of Ohio counties with higher opioid dispensing rates than the national average includes places such as Clinton, Athens, Crawford, Fairfield, Greene, Pike, Lawrence, Defiance, Clark, Stark, Gallia, Summit, Cuyahoga, Tuscarawas, Muskingum, Franklin, Washington, Ross, Fayette, Allen, Hamilton, Montgomery, Scioto, Marion, Jefferson, Mahoning, and Lucas counties.

These counties range from being slightly lower than the state average to significantly higher, with Lucas County having an opioid dispensing rate as much as 82.4% higher than the national average.

Addressing the ongoing opioid crisis remains a top priority for public health officials and healthcare providers across Ohio. Efforts to implement comprehensive strategies, including increasing access to addiction treatment, expanding harm reduction programs, and raising awareness about the dangers of opioid misuse, are crucial to combatting this pervasive issue.

It is imperative that communities work together to support individuals struggling with opioid addiction and implement evidence-based solutions to reduce opioid dispensing rates and save lives.