This resource page is meant to consolidate helpful information on prescription drug abuse and unintentional overdose deaths in Ohio, to one easy to find location. As it currently stands, this list is by no means comprehensive, so expect new resources to be added regularly. If you have a resource that you would like to see shared here, please send it to mstubbswilson@drugfreeactionalliance.org. Thank you!
1. Statewide Fact Sheet -- Prescription drug abuse is a growing epidemic in the state of Ohio. This Fact Sheet offers information on identifying the most commonly abused prescription drugs and how to properly dispose of your old prescription medications.
2. Drug Disposal Day Guidelines -- This document is a step by step guide to planning a Drug Disposal Day in your community. Drug Disposal Days are implemented to ensure that unwanted medications are collected and destroyed using methods that are both legal and environmentally friendly. The 2007 Ohio Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 26.5 percent of high school students reported using a prescription drug without a doctor’s prescription one or more times during their lifetime. Holding drug disposal events can help prevent medication diversion and raise public awareness.
3. Initiatives for Prevention of Prescription Drug Misuse, Abuse and Overdose – This document offers an overview of some of the current initiatives taking place in Ohio around the issue of prescription drug abuse.
4. Drug Overdose Deaths in Ohio – This document outlines data on the numbers of unintentional drug overdose deaths that have occurred in Ohio between the years of 2000-2009. County specific data is available here.
5. Prescription Painkiller Overdoses in the US -- This document gives a brief overview of the national statistics on prescription painkiller overdoses in the United States. It also offers some suggestions on ways in which the issue can be addressed.
6. Summary of Ohio House Bill 93 – Signed by Governor John Kasich in May 2011, this bill is meant to establish and modify laws regarding the prevention of prescription drug abuse, development of information programs by the State Medical Board, and Medicaid coverage of prescription drugs.
