Ohio's Opiate Story

Signs of Abuse

Recognize these signs of substance abuse:
  • Changes in mood or attitudes
  • Changes in sleeping habits
  • Curfew violations
  • Drug paraphernalia
  • Lack of personal grooming
  • Loss of appetite
  • Low energy
  • Missing work/school
  • Slurred speech
  • Unexplained weight loss/weight gain
  • Unusual temper outbursts

Signs of Overdose

Overdose symptoms vary widely depending on the specific drug used, but may include:

  • Abnormal pupil size
  • Agitation
  • Convulsions
  • Delusional or paranoid behavior
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Drowsiness
  • Hallucinations
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Nonreactive pupils
  • Staggering or unsteady gait
  • Sweating or extremely dry, hot skin
  • Tremors
  • Unconsciousness
  • Violent or aggressive behavior

Prescription Opioid Narcotics & Heroin

"Did you know that legally prescribed opioid narcotics are pharmaceutical-grade heroin produced in a laboratory? If you had no idea, you are not alone; in fact many doctors are not trained in pharmacology and base their decision to prescribe an opioid on information they receive from the manufacturer of the drug. This information may or may not provide total transparency of the drug’s safety and efficacy. Many patients taking prescription opioids know them as “pain killers” and are not aware of their similarity to heroin..."  Read more from the Advocate for the Reform of Prescription Opioids

Prescription Drug Abuse: An "American Epidemic"

An epidemic of prescription drug abuse is killing Americans at a rate comparable to that of deaths from car crashes.

It’s an epidemic that is tied to illegal drugs like heroin, and it is affecting middle class communities like Livermore and Pleasanton, as well as the inner cities, according to Steve Smith, a supervisor in the Oakland office of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
​
Despite criminal prosecutions, regulatory fines, education efforts and the collection of hundreds of tons of unused prescription drugs, the problem continues and is getting worse, Smith said.  Read more...

More Information & Resources