Opioid Overdoses Spiked In Ohio In 2020

OHIO — The opioid epidemic claimed more Ohioans in a three-month period in 2020 than any other time since the epidemic began, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced.

During the second quarter of 2020, Ohio's death rate from opioid overdoses jumped to 11.01 per 100,000 people — the highest rate seen in a decade. The previous 10-year high was in the first quarter of 2017, when opioid overdoses effected 10.87 people per 100,000.

“Opioid overdoses might have taken a backseat in our minds last year because of COVID-19, but make no mistake: Ohioans are dying at a devastating rate because of opioid overdoses,” Yost said.

The counties hit hardest during the second quarter of 2020 were Scioto (35.22 deaths per 100,000 residents), Fayette (20.67) and Franklin (19.43). Ohio's other two largest counties, Cuyahoga and Hamilton, had death rates of 8.83 and 12.21, respectively.

The analysis by Yost's office found an increase in opioid deaths in 67 percent of Ohio counties.

“This is alarming data, and while COVID has rightly captured our attention, we cannot lose sight of the threat the opioid epidemic brings to all areas of Ohio,” Yost said.

The Ohio Attorney General urged Ohioans to seek medical care in the event of an overdose, despite concerns about COVID-19. He also asked Ohioans to be vigilant about how they store prescription medications.

Many opioid addictions begin at home. Yost's office released guidelines for properly storing medications, including:

• Do not share medication
• Track usage of pills to prevent pilfering
• Lock up addictive prescriptions
• Store prescriptions in a high location, to keep them out of reach of children

Get more tips on how to safely keep and dispose of prescription medications from Yost's office.

The jump in opioid overdose deaths comes after Ohio's opioid epidemic began to slow, with many counties seeing death rates between 6 and 8 per 100,000 residents, Yost's office said.

Data for the analysis was gathered by the Ohio Department of Health. Numbers can lag up to six months, Yost's office said.

Ohio has also joined a coalition of states urging the FDA to examine any progress made on battling the opioid epidemic. The group of attorneys general, including Yost, specifically asked the agency to detail how FDA is using and plans to use powers granted under the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (SUPPORT Act).

Powers under that provision include safer opioid packaging and disposal, research and issuance of new regulations on non-addictive alternatives to opioids and guidelines for opioid prescribing.

“While dealing with a worldwide pandemic, we are still fighting an opioid epidemic that continues to wreak havoc,” Yost said. “I am committed to using all the tools available to combat opioid addictions and save lives.”