A recent story from WBNS-10TV is shedding light on the changing face of addiction in Ohio and the wide variety of individuals it affects. The segment, which aired earlier this week, details an alarming increase in the number of young women reporting addiction to drugs and alcohol. Young women most affected by a rise in drug and alcohol use and addiction are those between the ages of 18 and 23, also known as millennials.
Many young women battling addiction remember starting in their early teens, often by experimenting with alcohol. For many, this eventually blossomed into the use of illegal narcotics and full-blown addictions. Many have also reported using multiple substances – or as one woman puts it, a “cocktail of disaster.”
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These stories highlight a significant change occurring across Ohio. Drug and alcohol counselors throughout the state have also noted a change in the people they treat. In the past, most treatment facilities would have seen middle aged people, often struggling with alcohol addiction. Today, that population is much more diverse, and includes many millennial women in their late teens and early 20s.
Like other Ohioans seeking treatment for addiction, young women are also becoming increasingly addicted to opiates. Statistics from the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services report that nearly 30% of new admissions over the past several years report opiate addictions, compared to just 7% in 2001. There has also been a 200% increase in women entering treatment facilities for opiate addiction since 2004.
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For many young women, the battle with addiction often leads to the court system and criminal charges. Fortunately, many courts recognize the benefits of treatment over punishment. If you or someone you know is currently facing drug crime charges – including high school and college cases – a Columbus criminal defense attorney from Koffel Brininger Nesbitt can help. Call 612-675-4845 to discuss your case.
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