Overdose of Ohio in 2017

The year 2017 was marked by 4,854 accidental fatal overdoses in Ohio, setting a record with an increase of 19.9% ​​over 2016.

The Ohio Department of Health officially released Thursday the state's overdose death count for 2017, noting that fentanyl was once again the leading cause of death.

An encouraging note in the state report: Deaths due to the prescription of pain medications are at their lowest for eight years and deaths due to heroin overdose are at their lowest level in the world. four years.

"The good news is that Ohio has made significant progress in reducing the number of prescription opioids available for abuse, and that overdose deaths related to prescription opioids that do not occur. Not involve fentanyl are at their lowest level since 2009 "Dr. Mark Hurst, director of the state department of mental health and addiction services. "These advances are important because prescription opioid abuse is often a gateway to the consumption of heroin and fentanyl."

Governor John Kasich praised efforts to end prescription drug use and the result of a decline in deaths, a sign that "we are winning" the battle against the opioid epidemic. Officials have noted that about 80% of heroin users report having started after abusing prescription-related deaths. He also noted that methamphetamine and cocaine and heroin were still contaminated with deadly fentanyl, which he called "a poison that will kill them".

Ohio registered 1,540 overdose deaths related to cocaine in 2017, an increase of 39% over 2016. In 2017, 537 overdose deaths involving psychostimulants such as methamphetamine were registered. .

Prescription opioid overdose deaths have fallen by almost 28% since 2011, reflecting efforts to stop physician purchases, monitor physician prescriptions and encourage caregivers to follow prescribing guidelines. # 39; opioids. "Between 2012 and 2017, the total number of opioids delivered to Ohio patients decreased by 225 million doses," the department said.

But officials say the big killer is still fentanyl, with its derivatives. The very powerful synthetic opiate that is often manufactured abroad is a staple of drug supply. It appears in cocaine and methamphetamine, as well as in heroin, both in cases of death and in drug seizures.

The state reports that there were 598 overdose deaths in Cuyahoga County in 2017, up from 547 the year before. In 2017, some counties reported lower overdose deaths, including Summit County, which went from 298 in 2017 to 239 in 2017. Lorain County has gone from 146 to 133.

Counties of Ashtabula, Lake and Stark also experienced a decrease in overdose deaths in 2017, while Medina and Geauga counties recorded slight increases.

In Hamilton County, medical examiner Lakshmi Sammarco initially reported 529 overdose deaths last year. But after all coroner's inquiries, the toll was 570. That's a 41% jump from the 403 in 2016.

Some counties in the region reported lower death overdose figures in 2017. The County of Clermont experienced a decline last year for the second year in a row, dropping from 94 in 2015 to 83 in 2016 and 76 last year. The decline stimulates treatment advocates, but they remain cautious.

"While we still have a lot of work to do to address the use of opioids in Clermont County, I am encouraged by the decline in our fatal overdoses, as this reflects all the collaboration between county agencies to provide services. and support for individuals with opioid addiction, "said Karen Scherra, executive director of the Clermont County Recovery and Mental Health Council.

Hamilton County seems to be seeing a drop in overdoses this year.

On Tuesday, the county coroner's office had documented 330 presumed overdose deaths for the year. This was down from last year's 445 on the same date. If the deaths remain at the same rate, they will total about 412 at the end of the year.

Treatment advocates and the Hamilton County Heroin Coalition believe that a collaborative effort between Mercy Health and regional treatment centers partly explains the declining enrollment. They work together to direct overdose survivors to drug-assisted treatments, which scientific studies show best.

This, coupled with a huge influx of naloxone, an antidote to opioids, is delivering results in the fight against death, said Dr. Shawn Ryan, a drug treatment specialist in the Cincinnati area.

But senior officials of the regional fight against drug addiction and overdoses urge caution.

Newtown Police Chief Tom Synan of the Hamilton County Heroin Coalition said that even though overdoses were continuing at their current rate, the region would experience more significant overdose deaths than the drug. before the onset of the opioid crisis.

"The reality is that we have had an epidemic for many years and that there are more overdose deaths and overdoses than when our country started to respond," said Synan. "If … we are not better off than we started, so what tells us that there is more work to be done."

"The outbreak will not be resolved within a year," Synan said. "We need to change our vision into long-term data and standardize the definitions of results."

He noted that the country had more than 60,000 overdose deaths in 2016 and more than 70,000 deaths last year. He added: "Everyone is a mother, a father, a brother, a sister, a son or a girl".

Report on Overdose Deaths in Ohio in 2017

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