Drug Abuse Trends in the Cincinnati Region OSAM Ohio Substance Abuse Monitoring Network
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Surveillance of Drug Abuse Trends in the Cincinnati Region OSAM Ohio Substance Abuse Monitoring Network Drug Abuse Trends in the Cincinnati Region Data Sources for the Cincinnati Region This regional report was based upon qualitative data collected via focus group interviews. Participants were active and recovering drug users recruited from alcohol and other drug treatment programs in Hamilton, Ross and Warren counties. Data triangulation was achieved through comparison of participant data to qualitative data collected from regional community professionals (treatment providers and law enforcement) via focus group interviews, as well as to data surveyed from the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office, the Scioto County Coroner’s Office, OhioMHAS’ Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral Regional Epidemiologist: for Treatment (SBIRT) program, which operates in federally qualified health Keith King, PhD, MCHES centers in the region, and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) London Crime Lab, which serves central and southern Ohio. In addition, data were abstracted from the National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS) which collects results from drug chemistry analyses conducted by OSAM Staff: state and local forensic laboratories across Ohio. All secondary data are sum- mary data of cases processed from July through December 2016. In addi- R. Thomas Sherba, PhD, MPH, LPCC tion to these data sources, Ohio media outlets were queried for information OSAM Principal Investigator regarding regional drug abuse for January through June 2017. Kathryn A. Coxe, MSW, LSW Note: OSAM participants were asked to report on drug use/knowledge pertaining to OSAM Coordinator the past six months prior to the interview; thus, current secondary data correspond to the reporting period of participants. Jessica Linley, PhD, MSW, LSW OSAM Quantitative Data Analyst OSAM Drug TrendTrend Report January-June January - June 2013 2017 Page 75 Surveillance of Drug Abuse Trends in the Cincinnati Region Regional Profile Indicator1 Ohio Cincinnati Region OSAM Drug Consumers Total Population, 2016 11,614,373 2,044,114 52 Gender (female), 2016 51.0% 51.0% 71.2% Whites, 2016 82.5% 82.1% 88.2%2 African Americans, 2016 12.8% 13.1% 3.8% 2 Hispanic or Latino Origin, 2016 3.7% 2.8% 3.8% High School Graduation Rate, 2015 89.1% 88.8% 76.0%3 Median Household Income, 2015 $51,086 $55,133 Less than $12,0004 Persons Below Poverty Level, 2015 14.8% 14.7% 72.0%5 1 Ohio and Cincinnati region statistics were derived from the most recent US Census; OSAM drug consumers were participants for this reporting period: January - June 2017. 2 Race was unable to be determined for 1 participant due to missing and/or invalid data. 3 Education level was unable to be determined for 2 participants due to missing and/or invalid data. 4 Participants reported income by selecting a category that best represented their household’s approximate income for the previous year. Income was unable to be determined for 4 participants due to missing and/or invalid data. 5 Poverty status was unable to be determined for 2 participants due to missing and/or invalid data. CincinnatiCincinnati Regional Regional Participant Participant Characteristics Characteristics Consumer Characteristics N=52* Male 15 Female 37 Gender 20s 15 30s 23 Age 40s 8 50s 5 Less than high school graduate 12 High school graduate 21 Some college or associate's degree 15 Education Bachelor's degree or higher 2 < $12,000 28 $12,000 to $19,999 7 $20,000 to $28,999 3 $29,000 to $36,999 7 Household Income ≥ $37,000 6 Alcohol 20 Cocaine, Crack 18 Cocaine, Powdered 13 Ecstasy/Molly 4 Heroin 22 Marijuana 17 Methampehtamine 17 Drugs Used** Prescription Opioids 15 Prescription Stimulants 9 Sedative-hypnotics 11 Other Drugs*** 4 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Number of Participants * Not all participants filled out forms completely; therefore, numbers may not equal 52. **Some respondents reported multiple drugs of use during the past six months. ***Other drugs included: Suboxone®, psilocybin mushrooms, phencyclidine (PCP) and synthetic marijuana. Page 76 OSAM Drug Trend Report January - June 2017 Surveillance of Drug Abuse Trends in the Cincinnati Region Surveillance of Drug Abuse Trends in the Cincinnati Region Historical Summary a common practice. Community professionals described typical heroin users as white, young males. In the previous reporting period (June 2016 – Participants reported that methamphetamine was in January 2017), crack cocaine, heroin, marijuana, “popular demand” during the reporting period. One methamphetamine, powdered cocaine, prescription participant referred to the drug as the “new cocaine.” stimulants and sedative-hypnotics remained highly Community professionals also noted an increase in demand available in the Cincinnati region; ecstasy was also highly and availability of methamphetamine. One law enforcement available. Changes in availability during the reporting officer stated that the drug was increasing along with heroin. period included: increased availability for heroin and Participants reported that methamphetamine was available methamphetamine; likely increased availability for in powdered and crystal forms throughout the region. marijuana; decreased availability for synthetic marijuana; However, they indicated that powdered methamphetamine and likely decreased availability for prescription opioids. was the most prevalent form. They also reported that the While different types of heroin were available in the region, overall quality of methamphetamine had increased during participants once again reported powdered heroin as most the reporting period. available. They reported black tar heroin as available, but Participants remarked that the Mexican drug cartels not as easy to obtain as powdered heroin. Both participants were flooding the drug market in the region with and community professionals noted an increase in methamphetamine, as they desired to create a strong heroin availability, and described heroin’s availability as market for the drug. The BCI London Crime Lab reported “everywhere.” Both respondent groups again reported the that the number of methamphetamine cases it processes practice of drug dealers throwing heroin testers into cars to had increased during the past six months; the lab reported get people to try their product. processing crystal, brown and off-white powdered Participants reported that the overall quality of heroin was methamphetamine. high, especially with fentanyl and carfentanil used to “cut” Participants described typical methamphetamine users (adulterate) the drug. Reportedly, the top cutting agents for as white people, drug dealers, people who use other heroin were fentanyl and carfentanil. Participants reported stimulants, individuals in the gay community, those living that the availability of fentanyl had increased during the in rural areas and those of lower socio-economic status. reporting period. One participant stated that much of the Community professionals described typical users as white heroin in the region was more fentanyl than actual heroin. people and bikers. Law enforcement observed that they were seeing many cases of heroin laced with fentanyl or carfentanil. The BCI Participants and community professionals also reported London Crime Lab noted processing cases of heroin-fentanyl high availability of high-grade marijuana extracts and mixtures and straight fentanyl submitted as suspected concentrates, often appearing as oil and waxy forms of the heroin cases during the reporting period. drug (aka “dabs”). Participants described high demand and increased popularity for dabs, which they reported had Although participants acknowledged that users were increased in availability during the reporting period. overdosing on fentanyl and carfentanil, they reported, along with community professionals, that users sought the Lastly, participants discussed “fake” benzodiazepine pills substances for their potency. Several participants discussed passed as the prescribed pills. They reported that individuals that they personally had Narcan® (naloxone, opiate overdose were purchasing various powders and pill presses through reversal medication) used on them to subvert overdose the Internet and making their own benzodiazepines, warning due to the potency of heroin with fentanyl (aka “fire”). One that a lot of pills passed as Xanax® were not real Xanax®. participant reported buying Narcan® from a dealer. Participants further cautioned that users did not know what they were getting regarding pills. The most common route of administration for heroin remained intravenous injection (aka “shooting”). Participants shared knowledge of needle exchange programs operating in the region; however, they discussed needle sharing as OSAMOSAM Drug Trend Report January-June January - June 2013 2017 Page 77 Surveillance of Drug Abuse Trends in the Cincinnati Region at a strip mall in Springdale (Hamilton County) (www.wcpo. Current Trends com, Feb. 14, 2017). Law enforcement in Hamilton County arrested a former Hamilton County assistant prosecutor for Powdered Cocaine cocaine and heroin trafficking; officers also found that a man suspected of murdering another man in a hotel parking lot Powdered cocaine remains highly available in the region. during a drug deal was staying at her home and arrested Participants most often reported the drug’s current him for murder (www.wcpo.com, Feb. 21, 2017). Oxford availability as ‘10’ on a scale of ‘0’ (not available, impossible Police (Butler County) issued