Deadly Overdose Spike Since Memorial Day In Northeast Ohio

CLEVELAND, OH — Cuyahoga County's battle with the opioid epidemic has seen one of its deadliest two-week stretches ever. There have been 43 overdose deaths since Memorial Day Weekend alone, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner reported on Wednesday. The cases are still under investigation.

The majority of those killed between May 26 and June 7 have been Cleveland residents. However, suburban residents from Lakewood, Westlake, Brecksville, Berea, Rocky River, Broadview Heights and Independence have also been killed.

By comparison, in April there were 41 heroin overdose deaths total. At that point, there were 187 confirmed overdose deaths in the county from heroin, fentanyl or a combination of the two.

According to the report released by the Medical Examiner, those killed in the last two weeks included residents from the following cities:

• Berea
• Brecksville
• Broadview Heights
• Brook Park (2)
• Brunswick
• Cincinnati
• Cleveland (21)
• Elyria
• Independence
• La Verne, California
• Lakewood
• Maple Heights
• North Olmsted
• North Royalton
• Parma (4)
• Rocky River
• Seven Hills
• Waren
• Westlake

Suburban mayors have been united in their desire to fight the opioid crisis as it spreads throughout Ohio. More and more police chiefs and mayors have proclaimed their cities to be in fights with the opioid epidemic.

"It’s a fight that, frankly, I don’t think we’re winning right now," Lakewood Mayor Mike Summers told Patch in May. "It’s a multifaceted approach that’s in order."

Strongsville Police Chief Mark Fender said in January 2017 that battling the heroin crisis was one of his top priorities.

The heroin and fentanyl epidemic has grown in leaps and bounds in recent years. Unintentional drug overdoses jumped from 84 in 2013 to 503 in 2014. Then, in 2015, the number of unintentional overdoses spike again, hitting 1,155 in Ohio, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

The crisis deepened in 2016, with 666 overdose deaths in Cuyahoga County alone. Of the 666 deaths, 557 were the result of opiate abuse, 399 the result of fentanyl.

Last week, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced the state would sue five opioid drug producers for fraudulent marketing and their role in Ohio's drug epidemic.

Read more on Ohio's opioid epidemic:

• Ohio Sues 5 Opioid Drug Producers
• 666 Overdose Deaths In Cuyahoga County In 2016
• Recovering Addict Reforms Police Approach To Opiates
• Curbing Opiates: Doctors Addicted To Overprescribing

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