Stimulant use is on the rise in Hamilton and Butler counties, according to a new report from the Drug Enforcement Agency.
The DEA listed Hamilton and Butler counties in the top five Ohio counties for stimulants. Law enforcement officials and treatment professionals agree that over-prescription, low cost and ease of access might have contributed to the increase.
The DEA classifies stimulants as any drug that speeds up the body’s systems. Prescription drugs such as amphetamines like Adderall, methylphenidate like Concerta and Ritalin, diet aids and illicitly produced drugs such as methamphetamine, cocaine, and methcathinone fall into this category.
Katie Konrad, who was addicted to Adderall for 10 years and now works for BrightView outpatient treatment center, says her addiction started with a prescription.
“With Adderall I was a mom. I was a super mom. I could clean my house, have my kids' clothes all cleaned and washed up, then I could stay up all night hanging out with my friends,” Konrad said.
But she soon built up a tolerance to the drug.
“I was taking six to 10 large milligram doses a day,” she said.
Konraid said the popular "study drug" for college students is also easy to obtain for parents of children with an Adderall prescription.
“I personally know several people that would sell their children’s medications,” she said, adding that over-prescription is "an ongoing problem" as well.
Besides prescription drugs, methamphetamine is making a comeback in the Tri-State, according to Sgt. Mike Hackney with the Butler County Sheriff’s Office.
“We’ve kind of seen a change from meth being produced here to being transported in, and now it’s being transported in at an extremely low price,” Hackney said.
