Deadly drug trade plagues Ohio prisons despite security efforts

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A yearlong investigation by several Ohio news outlets has uncovered a thriving black market drug trade inside the state's prison system, with employees, vendors, and visitors continuing to smuggle in significant amounts of illegal substances despite heightened security measures costing tens of millions of dollars.

Why it matters

The drug trade in Ohio prisons has led to increased violence and overdose deaths, posing serious safety risks for inmates and staff. Efforts to curb the smuggling have so far proven ineffective, raising concerns about the ability of the prison system to control the flow of contraband and protect those within its walls.

The details

The most commonly found drug in Ohio prisons is drug-soaked paper, sold in confetti-sized hits, which has fueled violence and accounted for more deaths than any other substance. Prisons have implemented tighter security measures like taller perimeter fences, anti-drone technology, and the electronic delivery of mail, but an unknown number of employees and contractors continue to smuggle drugs through the front entrance with little consequence.

• The investigation by the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal, Canton Repository, and The Marshall Project - Cleveland took place over the course of a year.
• The findings were published on March 29, 2026.