An increase in treatment admissions for heroin abuse among young people in Ohio is being attributed to problems that often start with prescription drug abuse, the Akron Beacon Journal reported Aug. 13.

A report from the Ohio Substance Abuse Monitoring Network covering the period from June 2007 to January 2008 found increasing amounts of "black tar" heroin use in several reporting areas and a higher rate of treatment admissions among young whites, as well as among young adults in suburban communities. A spokeswoman for the state Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services said many young people are turning to heroin after not finding a sufficient opiate effect from prescription pain medication.

The report's overall findings, culled from interviews with treatment providers, law enforcement officials and consumers, generally found few changes in drug use patterns in the state. Both heroin use and prescription drug abuse continue to hold steady, as do marijuana and cocaine use. Limited street availability of methamphetamine and OxyContin has led to a decline in use of those substances.

Other drug trend patterns that have remained consistent in recent years include young people's inappropriate use of prescription drugs in combination with alcohol, and substantial use of this combination of drugs among the state's elderly population as well.