Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2026
Advisor
Jeannette Manger
Abstract
Deaths from drug overdoses have been increasing each year. Ohio ranks among states with the highest number of drug overdose deaths per year. There is a gap in the literature regarding discussions of how excessive alcohol drinking and cigarette smoking rates may predict drug overdose death rates in a community. First, this study investigates differences in excessive drinking, adult smoking, and drug overdose deaths between urban and rural counties in Ohio. Second, this study explores whether excessive drinking and smoking behaviors can predict drug overdose death rates in urban and rural Ohio counties. Data exclusive to Ohio counties was obtained from the 2025 and 2020 County Health Rankings Report and statistical analysis was completed using SPSS. In urban counties, smoking and excessive drinking together accounted for 29.2% of the variance in drug overdose mortality rates. Smoking was a positive, significant predictor, while excessive drinking was a negative, significant predictor. In rural counties, smoking and excessive drinking together accounted for 50.8% of the variance in drug overdose mortality rates. Smoking was a positive, marginally nonsignificant predictor, while excessive drinking was a negative nonsignificant predictor. These findings highlight how smoking and alcohol use patterns may serve as important behavioral indicators of community-level vulnerability to drug overdose mortality in Ohio.
Repository Citation
Byoun, S., & Griffin, A. (2026). Investigating the Relationship Between Drug Overdose Deaths, Excessive Alcohol Drinking, and Adult Smoking in Urban and Rural Ohio Counties in 2025. Wright State University. Dayton, Ohio.
