More Ohioans fatally overdosed in 2017 than ever

County coroners throughout Ohio recorded 804 fatal overdoses in 2017 compared to the 4,050 reported the previous year, an increase of 20%. This is also the eighth consecutive year that drug-related deaths have increased, according to data on deaths by

Not surprisingly, fentanyl is responsible for the continuation of the Ohio drug epidemic. Synthetic opioid accounted for nearly three-quarters of drug-related deaths in Ohio, killing 3,431 people in 2017, an increase of 46% from the previous year.

There was also an upsurge in cocaine-related deaths, which increased by 39% over 2016, with many believing that fentanyl cut with cocaine is probably responsible. Fortunately, heroin related deaths have dropped 46% over 2016, and few Ohio have died of prescription opioids. The numbers for both are at their lowest for 50 years.

"Drug traffickers flood communities with different drugs to see what's going on. They are very smart business people, "said Lori Criss, CEO of the Board of Behavioral and Family Health Service Providers of Ohio, at The Columbus Dispatch.

"It's a marathon," Criss said. "There will be no quick fix."

Montgomery County in Dayton experienced the largest increase in deaths, with numbers up 63% from 2016. In 2017, there were 98 deaths per 100,000 population, the highest rate in the world. 39; State.

Cuyahoga County remains the leader in overall numbers, up nine percent from 2016 and contributing 598 registered deaths.

Cheri Walter, CEO of the Ohio Association of Behavioral Health Authorities of Ohio, noted that although the death toll from the state was high, it could have been much worse.

"We also know that more people are being treated, more people are recovering and more people are being saved by naloxone," Walter said.

"In fact, we focused on opioids and heroin, and now we see more deaths involving other drugs. We must therefore focus more on the treatment of all kinds of addictions.

The general surgeon has encouraged citizens to wear overdose antidotes like naloxone (aka Narcan) in the same way that allergic people are carriers of EpiPens. "It's time to get more people to have access to this drug because 77% of overdose opioid deaths occur outside of a medical setting and more than half occur at home" said Dr. Jerome Adams.

In April, Cardinal Health donated more than 80,000 doses of Narcan to first responders and law enforcement in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia as part of the front-line response to the opioid crisis.

If you or someone you know is dealing with opioid abuse, please contact the Addiction and Mental Health Services Administration. The SAMHSA National Support Line, 1-800-662-HELP (4357), is a confidential, free, 24-hour, 365-day-a-year, English and French information service. Spanish, for individuals and family members. faced with mental disorders and / or addictions. This service provides referrals to local treatment centers, support groups and community organizations.