On November 23, I attended a town hall meeting in Wheelersburg regarding prescription drug abuse. The emphasis of the meeting was to inform local communities of the current epidemic of prescription drug abuse in this area.
Lisa Roberts of the Portsmouth City Health Department offered statistics compiled by local and state health officials. In 2006, drug overdoses became the leading cause of accidental death for the state of Ohio, with Scioto county the second leading county in the state. The leading cause of these overdoses are prescription opioids, such as methadone and oxycodone.
As a result of the growing prescription drug abuse epidemic a new problem now faces the county. Scioto County now has the number one Hepatitis C rate. The number one risk factor for Hepatitis C is IV drug use.
A recent study by the Ohio Pharmacy Board shows Southern Ohio prescribing an unusually large amount of pain medications. Scioto County is home to nine pain clinics. These pain clinics take cash only. There is no insurance billing, no credit cards.
One of the most telling statements of the evening came when attorney Joe Hale pointed out that if you live in a community and your zip code ranks in the top ten of the country for originating Oxycontin or Oxycodone prescriptions, then you have a "criminal enterprise going on in your community."
It was apparent that those in attendance were enthused about making a difference in this issue throughout the surrounding community. Although New Boston has no pain clinics, it is obvious we have many residents who frequent these clinics elsewhere in the county. It is also extremely obvious these pain clinics contribute to the drug abuse problems in New Boston.
Other similar meetings will occur throughout the county, including in New Boston, over the next several months. We must work together to develop a plan of action that will curtail and eventually stop this problem. Solutions will only be effective if they are developed not just by community leadership, but in partnership with each and everyone of us.
I would like to thank Bob Walton, Jr., and the citizens of Wheelersburg for organizing and having this initial meeting at the Porter Township Senior and Civic Center. I would also like to thank all the speakers for their time and dedication to this issue. It was also encouraging to see a standing room only crowd of concerned citizens from all over Scioto County attending.
Mike Payton
11-30-09
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