Drug abuse is related to crime in several ways. Drug addiction can inhibit a person’s cognition, compromise rational thinking and decision-making capabilities, and trigger violent and reckless behavior.

Drugged driving, drug possession and use, and drug trafficking are also ways drugs are linked to crime.

Good to Know: Ohio Addiction Research

This fact sheet compiles key statistics about drug-related crimes in Ohio.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Ohio City has a drug-related crime rate of 0.1050 per 1000 residents, ranking in the 97th percentile for safety.
• Glenmore’s drug-related crime rate is 0.0813 per 1000 residents, placing it in the 99th percentile for safety.
• In 2001, the combined percentage of powdered crack and cocaine-related sentences accounted for 53% of all drug-related federal sentences in the Southern District of Ohio, surpassing the national average of 43%.
• In 2002, publicly funded treatment facilities in Ohio admitted 400 patients for drug abuse related to marijuana.
• The Ohio State Highway Patrol arrested 104,845 individuals for driving under the influence between 2018 and 2023.

Drug-Related Crime Rates by Ohio Localities

This graph represents the overall drug-related crime rate in ten Ohio areas. 

Ohio City 

• According to CrimeGrade, Ohio City’s drug-related crime rate is 0.1050 per 1000 residents in a standard year. This earns Ohio City an A+ grade in terms of drug-related crime safety. 

• Ohio City’s drug-related crime rate is significantly lower than the average U.S. city.

  It ranks in the 97th percentile for drug-related crime safety—meaning 97% of cities are more dangerous and 3% are safer than Ohio City. 

• A person’s chance of becoming a victim of a drug-related crime is about 1 in 3216 in southwest neighborhoods and 1 in 23,316 in the northern region of Ohio City. 

Glenmore

• Glenmore’s drug-related crime rate is 0.0813 per 1000 residents in a standard year, earning it an A+ grade in terms of drug crime safety.

• Glenmore ranks in the 99th percentile for drug-related crime safety.

• A person’s chance of becoming a victim of a drug-related crime is about 1 in 7645 in west neighborhoods and 1 in 24,102 in the southern region of Glenmore. 

Middlebury

• Middlebury’s drug-related crime rate is 0.1528 per 1000 residents in a standard year, which earns it an A+ grade in terms of drug-related crime safety. 

• Middlebury ranks in the 95th percentile for drug-related crime safety in the U.S.

• An individual’s chance of becoming a victim of a drug-related crime is about 1 in 6320 in Middlebury’s west neighborhoods and 1 in 7104 in the eastern areas. 

Wren

• Wren’s drug-related crime rate is 0.1353 per 1000 residents in a standard year. This earns Wren an A+ grade for drug-related crime safety. 

• Wren ranks in the 96th percentile for drug-related crime safety, according to CrimeGrade. 

• As a resident of Wren, an individual’s average chance of becoming a victim of a drug-related crime is about 1 in 6888 in northwest neighborhoods and 1 in 7645 in the western areas. 

Dull

• Dull’s drug-related crime rate is 0.8056 per 1000 residents in a standard year, giving it a C grade in terms of drug-related crime safety. 

• Dull ranks in the 45th percentile for drug-related crime safety.

• When it comes to drug-related crime, the western part of Dull is considered the safest region.

  A person’s chance of becoming a victim of a drug-related crime is about 1 in 543 in southern neighborhoods and 1 in 24,102 in the western areas. 

Van Wert

• Van Wert’s drug-related crime rate is 1.152 per 1000 residents in a standard year, which gives it a D+ grade in terms of drug-related crime safety. 

• Van Wert ranks in the 29th percentile for drug-related crime safety.

• A person’s chance of becoming a victim of a drug-related crime is about 1 in 440 in Van Wert’s central neighborhoods and 1 in 1989 in the southeastern region.

Willshire

• Willshire has a drug-related crime rate of 0.3100 per 1000 residents in a standard year. This earns Willshire an A grade in terms of drug-related crime safety. 

• Willshire ranks in the 85th percentile for drug-related crime safety in the U.S.

• A person’s average chance of becoming a victim of a drug-related crime is about 1 in 989 in Willshire’s southern regions and 1 in 29,313 in the western region.

Mercer

• Mercer records a drug-related crime rate of 0.7106 per 1000 residents, resulting in a C+ grade for its drug-related crime safety.

• Mercer ranks in the 51st percentile for drug-related crime safety.

• Residents of Mercer regard the western part as the safest in terms of drug-related crime.

  As a Mercer resident, one’s average likelihood of experiencing a drug-related crime is approximately 1 in 1188 in the southeastern areas and 1 in 1635 in the western area.

Rockford

• Rockford has a drug-related crime rate of 1.106 per 1000 residents in a standard year. This earns Rockford a C- grade in terms of drug-related crime safety. 

• Rockford ranks in the 31st percentile for drug-related crime safety.

• An individual’s chance of becoming a victim of a drug-related crime is about 1 in 543 in northwestern regions and 1 in 2273 in the western region of Rockford.

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Venedocia 

• Venedocia has a drug-related crime rate of 0.2118 per 1000 residents in a standard year.

  This gives Venedocia an A grade in terms of drug-related crime safety. 

• Venedocia ranks in the 92nd percentile for drug-related crime safety.

• According to CrimeGrade, for a resident of Venedocia, the average probability of experiencing a drug-related crime is approximately 1 in 1775 in the northern regions and 1 in 24102 in the western region. 

Good to Know: Ohio Mental Health Statistics

Ohio Drug-Related Crime Statistics by Type of Drug

The table below shows the percentage of federal sentences related to four types of drugs in Southern Ohio, contrasted with the national percentage:

Cocaine 

• In 2002, 481 cocaine-related admissions were made to addiction treatment centers in Dayton, higher than for all other illicit drugs in the city.

• According to the United States Sentencing Commission, in 2001, powdered crack and cocaine-related sentences made up 53% of all drug-related federal sentences in the Southern District of Ohio. This percentage was significantly higher than the national percentage (43%). 

• In Southern Ohio, powdered cocaine-related federal sentences (53 sentences) were higher than crack cocaine-related sentences (16 sentences) in 2001.  That shows how cocaine addiction is dangerous.

• According to the National Drug Threat Assessment Report 2007, 24 out of the 36 state/local law enforcement respondents in Ohio reported that crack cocaine was the drug most commonly linked to violent and property crime. 

Need to Know: Cocaine Detox Center in Ohio

Marijuana 

• In 2002, 400 patients were admitted into publicly funded treatment facilities for marijuana-related drug abuse, according to the Montgomery County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board. This was the largest number for any illicit drug other than cocaine. 

• According to the United States Sentencing Commission, 32% of all drug-related federal sentences in 2001 were linked to marijuana in the Southern District of Ohio.

  This was similar to the national percentage of marijuana-related sentences (33%). 

Heroin 

• In 2002, 126 heroin-related admissions were made to publicly funded treatment facilities in Dayton, according to the Montgomery County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board. Heroin was a factor in 44 deaths, higher than any other illicit drug. 

• According to the United States Sentencing Commission, 9% of drug-related federal sentences in 2001 in the Southern District of Ohio were related to heroin addiction.

  This was slightly higher than the national percentage that year, which was 7%. 

Need to Know: Heroin Detox Center in Ohio

Other Drugs 

• The United States Sentencing Commission reports that in 2001, only 5% of all drug-related federal sentences in the Southern District of Ohio were linked to methamphetamine addiction. This is significantly lower than the national percentage of meth-related crimes (14%), owing to the limited availability of meth in Southern Ohio. 

Good to Know: Homelessness Statistics Ohio

Data Sources 

1. https://crimegrade.org/drug-crimes-ohio-city-oh/ 
2. https://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs5/5403/5403p.pdf 
3. https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/united-states-sentencing-commission-annual-report-2001 
4. https://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs21/21137/21137p.pdf 

More Resources on Addiction:

• Dopamine: Function, Relation with Addiction, Dysregulation Effect, and Recovery
• Who Started Alcoholics Anonymous?
• What is The 12th Step of AA?