Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Illinois all face major problems with drug addiction and overdose deaths, and all have Republican senators seeking second terms in contests that will help determine which party holds the majority in the Senate next year.

In this three-part series, RealClearPolitics examines the drug epidemic’s role in these races.

While it’s not known how much the issue will impact election outcomes, it’s clear soaring addiction and overdose rates weigh heavily on the minds of both voters and politicians. And with Republicans holding just a slim four-seat majority in the Senate, both parties have eyed these states as critical to their efforts to capture the majority.

Today, a look at drug trends and policies in Ohio.

The Buckeye State has seen a dramatic increase in drug-related deaths across the board in the last few years, both from painkillers and heroin. In 2008, there were 1,475 drug-poisoning deaths in Ohio, according to the Columbus Dispatch. The number of deaths rose to 2,110 in 2013 and to 2,482 the following year, the paper reported.

Read the article “In Key Senate Races, Drug Use Tops Voters’ Concerns” on realclearpolitics.com.