This past weekend in Portsmouth, substance abuse and its ripple effects played out in real time, calling police officers, EMS crews, and Good Samaritans into action again and again.
At Tracy Park, a man was found pale and barely responsive near the stage just after 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. Witnesses quickly called 911, and medics from the Portsmouth Fire Department rushed the man to Southern Ohio Medical Center for life-saving treatment. It was one of several calls for help linked to addiction over the course of just a few hours.
Earlier in the day, around 2 p.m., employees at a Young Street business contacted police about a man who appeared high and was panhandling outside their store. When officers arrived, the man insisted he was sober — and had been since last November — claiming he was just exhausted. Officers noted he did not seem intoxicated, but still advised him about the complaint.
By 3 p.m., police were called to a Gay Street business where a man was reportedly yelling and cursing at workers. Officers recognized the individual immediately — someone they have had “frequent contact” with. The man admitted he had been arguing with someone from a nearby gas station. Police also warned two individuals on the scene about public drinking, open containers, and trespassing before they left the area.
Later that night, around 9 p.m., an Ohio State Trooper reported seeing a drunk man in a white polo shirt jumping into traffic on Bonser Avenue. Although police responded quickly, the man had already fled the area.
A Symptom of a Larger Problem
Each of these incidents tells part of a bigger, deeply troubling story: Portsmouth continues to wrestle with the devastating impacts of addiction, homelessness, and untreated mental health issues. Emergency responders are stretched thin, answering call after call involving individuals who need far more than a quick intervention.
The situation is nothing new — Portsmouth was once called “the pill mill capital of America” during the height of the opioid crisis. While some progress has been made, the lasting scars of addiction remain visible on city streets, in parks, and outside local businesses.
Experts say real solutions require more than just arrests and ambulance rides. They urge a combination of expanded mental health services, substance abuse treatment programs, and housing support to tackle the crisis head-on. Without long-term recovery options and community investment, the cycle of addiction and emergency calls is unlikely to break.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, help is available:
- Scioto County Recovery Gateway: (740) 354-6685
- Hope Partnership Project: (740) 876-8449
- National Substance Abuse Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
The battle for Portsmouth’s future is being fought every day — not just in treatment centers, but on the sidewalks, in city parks, and in the flashing lights of every siren call.
