This study, coauthored by DEPC Senior Researcher Peter Leasure and Affiliated Researcher Meghan M. O'Neil examined whether primary drug of choice is associated with risk of being injured or threatened by a gun. Analyses showed marginally and statistically significant differences in firearm victimization risk between individuals identifying alcohol as their primary drug of choice and those identifying cocaine, heroin/opioids, or crystal meth. Individuals identifying marijuana as their primary drug of choice had the lowest risk of gun victimization. Firearm victimization was common among people receiving addiction treatment, though less frequent among those preferring marijuana. Risk did not differ significantly by race or ethnicity. More than 40% of participants reported gun victimization, underscoring firearm violence as a major public health concern for this population and by association, their families.

Stigma is a major barrier to treatment for people who use drugs (PWUD). This study, coauthored by DEPC Professor Tasha Perdue, analyzes how different forms of stigma affect experiences after an overdose and perceptions of postoverdose interventions among a sample of PWUD in Dayton, Ohio. Interviews with 23 individuals revealed that enacted, anticipated, internalized, and structural stigma hinder access to treatment and support. These stigmas manifest through medical mistreatment, mistrust, mental health impacts, and lack of long-term treatment options. Understanding these barriers can improve public health interventions to reduce stigma and overdose deaths.

In 1962, Congress amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require that drugs be proven not only safe, but effective, before FDA approval. Over the past 60 years, this efficacy requirement has faced challenges, leading to debates on various drugs. Recently, proposals have emerged to lower or eliminate this standard, arguing it delays access to treatments. However, these proposals are seen as dangerous and unnecessary, as the current flexible approval standard already allows for case-by-case determinations. Critics argue that lowering the standard misunderstands the FDA's role and risks public health, emphasizing the need for rigorous preapproval effectiveness evidence.

This study analyzed Ohio State Highway Patrol data to estimate drug abuse instrument charge likelihood by race/ethnicity and gender.

This study sought to identity typologies of repeat OVI offenders in Ohio using data from the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Specific areas of analysis include gender, race/ethnicity, and whether the OVI arrest had a co-occurring drug offense.

Opioid treatment agreements (OTAs) provide information about opioid-based analgesia and outline requirements that patients must satisfy to receive long-term opioid therapy (LTOT). Many OTAs either explicitly prohibit concomitant use of cannabis with LTOT, or give clinicians discretion to stop prescribing given cannabis use. Yet, 38 states now allow medical cannabis use, and 24 allow nonmedical use. Clinicians are increasingly asked for advice about cannabis and many have permissive views. While there has been ongoing ethical debate about OTAs, less attention has been paid to their implementation. To learn how clinicians are negotiating increasing tolerance toward cannabis when treatment agreements generally forbid the practice, this study, coauthored by DEPC Professor Patricia J. Zettler, surveyed clinicians about their responses to hypothetical patient behaviors.

This report highlights the main areas of concern in respect to intoxicating hemp products, including use by youth and children’s accidental exposure, consumer safety, and interests of the hemp and adult-use marijuana industry. The report concludes with various steps Ohio can take in trying to balance the various concerns and priorities.

The fentanyl crisis has received national attention. In the current context, this study, coauthored by DEPC Senior Research Associate Peter Leasure, sought to assess whether public perception of criminal culpability varies by who supplies fentanyl to an individual who later dies from an overdose.

This study examined whether the likelihood of having a felony charge varied based on the primary drug of choice among individuals undergoing drug treatment. The results revealed that individuals who reported cocaine or heroin/opioids as their primary drug of choice had significantly higher probabilities of having a felony charge compared to those who reported alcohol as their primary drug.

This paper, coauthored by DEPC Senior Research Associate Maria Orsini, examines how tobacco taxes, smoke-free policies, and cannabis policies impact blunt use (cannabis in cigar wrappers) among youth.

This paper provides an overview of Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) drug incidents from January 2019 to June 2024. Key findings include that over a third of drug incidents involved multiple offenses, and there seemed to be a significant decline in drug offenses, warranting further research. Marijuana possession was the most common offense except for 2024, likely due to recreational marijuana legalization, though it remained the second most common in 2024.

This study, coauthored by DEPC Senior Research Associate Peter Leasure, examined how traffic stop data impacts public approval of discretionary traffic stops. The findings suggest that public opinion can be influenced by presenting evidence of effectiveness, especially in addressing concerns about transparency and crime control strategies.