Heroin Remains Popular in Ohio

A state report on drug abuse shows heroin remains popular and widely available across most of Ohio.

A drug expert from Muskingum Behavioral Health said the trend towards heroin started in our area two years ago replacing marijuana in popularity.

“We’re seeing it more in the treatment program, but we’re also hearing more about it more and more in the community,” said Executive Director of Muskingum Behavioral Health Steve Carrel. “I sit around the table from health care from law enforcement, social service agencies, schools and we’re talking about different things and everybody is talking about heroin.”

Carrel said the he believes heroin is gaining in popularity because it’s cheap. The drug also kills pain and is psychologically and physically addicting.

“Folks who quit on their own without help will get into the withdraw and then their motivation to quit obviously decreases because the pain and the physical symptoms have are so horrible you go back to using,” said Carrel.

Carrel said to help combat the heroin problem we must first realize it’s not a big city issue or one just affecting poor citizens and that there’s no shame in getting treated for addiction.

The survey of drug abuse trends by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services surveyed active and recovering drug users and treatment professionals as well as information from coroner’s offices, courts, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and County Crime Labs.