(The Center Square) – A recent study showed Ohio is relatively average when it comes to states with the biggest drug problems.
A report from WalletHub, a personal finance website, showed Ohio in the middle of the pack in its rankings of states with the biggest drug problems. The report looked at 20 key metrics, ranging from arrests to overdose rates to opioid prescription use and employee drug testing laws.
Overall, Ohio ranked 27th in the nation, far better than Michigan’s 10th, Kentucky’s 12th and Indiana’s 13th relatively even with Pennsylvania’s 24th.
The Buckeye State was 14th in drug use and addiction rank, along with 35th for law enforcement and 42nd for drug health issues and rehab.
Neighboring West Virginia had the second-biggest drug problem and had the most drug overdose deaths per capita and the second-most college campus drug arrests.
It also had a low number of substance abuse, behavioral disorders, and mental health social workers and counselors per capita, which makes it more difficult for people with drug problems to get the help they need, according to the report.
“While Ohio isn’t as severely affected as West Virginia, it still has a large number of people using drugs and succumbing to drug overdoses,” WalletHub Analyst Cassandra Happe said. “Ohio, however, has more drug counselors than some other states, but it still requires more effort to help those who are struggling with addiction. Both states demonstrate that fighting drug addiction is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach.”
The report showed New Mexico as the state with the biggest drug problem, followed by West Virginia, Nevada, Washington, D.C. and Colorado.
Hawaii had the lowest drug problem, followed by Utah, Nebraska, Florida and Maryland.
