OSAM Network Releases Latest Drug Trend Report

The Ohio Substance Abuse Monitoring (OSAM) Network this week announced the release of its January 2024 Drug Trend Report, Surveillance of Drug Use Trends in the State of Ohio: July – December 2023.  

Key findings from the latest report include:

• Fentanyl and methamphetamine remain highly available throughout OSAM regions due to continued high supply and demand.
• Respondents continue to report high number of fentanyl-pressed pills that look like prescription pills.
• Respondents viewed methamphetamine as the most available illicit drug, or at least as available as fentanyl.
• Reasons for high methamphetamine availability/use include its low cost and prolonged high, people who use opioids switching to or now using methamphetamine to avoid opiate overdose, and/or to alleviate opioid withdrawal symptoms.

The OSAM Network consists of eight regional epidemiologists (REPIs) located in the following regions: Akron-Canton, Athens, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Toledo and Youngstown. The Network conducts focus groups and individual qualitative interviews with active and recovering drug users and community professionals (treatment providers, law enforcement officials, etc.) to produce epidemiological descriptions of local substance abuse trends. Qualitative findings are supplemented with available statistical data such as coroner’s reports and crime laboratory data. Mass media sources such as local newspapers are also monitored for information related to substance abuse trends.

For more information, please see the full Surveillance of Drug Use Trends in the State of Ohio: July – December 2023.  Questions? Contact OSAM Principal Investigator R. Thomas Sherba, PhD, MPH, LPCC, via email [email protected] or call 614.466.9020