Overdose Deaths Decreased In Cuyahoga County In 2018

For the first time in nearly a decade, Cuyahoga County had fewer overdose deaths than it did the year before.

Officials are currently projecting 560 overdose deaths in 2018, with several cases still pending, down from 727 deaths in 2017. If the numbers hold, that is a 23 percent decrease year-to-year.

"This is a gratifying development after so many years of effort on the part of many people. While all of our investigations are not finalized, it has become clear that 2018 will represent a step in the right direction with a decline in drug fatalities in our county," said Dr. Thomas Gilson, the county's Medical Examiner.

Overdose deaths were down in nearly every category in 2018, based on the preliminary data.

• 560 Total Drug Overdose Deaths (includes prescription drugs) (727 in 2017)
• 440 Opioid-Related Deaths (includes prescription drugs) (556 in 2017)
• 404 Fentanyl-Related Deaths (492 in 2017)
• 255 Cocaine-Related Deaths (300 in 2017)
• 153 Heroin-Related Deaths (240 in 2017)
• 24 Carfentanil-Related Deaths (191 in 2017)

"We are by no means back to where we were before this crisis started and these numbers, while encouraging, really indicate we need to strenuously continue our efforts," Gilson added.

The county cited the widespread use of anti-overdose drug Naloxone as one of the keys to decreasing overdose deaths in Cuyahoga County. Gilson's office reports there may have been more than 1,000 overdose deaths in 2018 if not for use of Naloxone.

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There were also several education and prevention initiatives rolled out across the county. The increased awareness of the epidemic, combined with declining opioid prescriptions, has started to weaken the momentum of the overdose crisis in Cuyahoga.

Ohio has frequently been called the face of the nation's opioid epidemic, and Northeast Ohio has been one of the most severely hit regions in America. For overdose deaths to decrease regionally is a sign of a major progress.

"This is good news–and it is definitely due to the hard work so many in our community have put in to stem the tide of this terrible crisis," said County Executive Armond Budish. "But we cannot lose sight of the fact that too many people continue to die–families are still being destroyed; lives are being lost. I commend all of our partners as they continue to work to save and change lives."

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