Record Number Of Opioid Deaths In Northeast Ohio In February

CLEVELAND, OH - February 2017 was the deadliest month in Northeast Ohio history for heroin/fentanyl deaths. At least 60 people were killed by heroin and fentanyl use in Northeast Ohio last month, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner announced on Friday. Another seven overdose cases are awaiting results from toxicology tests. The previous record for heroin/fentanyl deaths was September 2016, when 57 people were killed.

The heroin-fentanyl epidemic has continued to claim more and more Ohioans. Through the first two months of the year, Northeast Ohioans have been killed by heroin, fentanyl, or a combination of the two. For reference, 57 people were killed by heroin or fentayl by the end of February.

The majority of overdose deaths in February 2017 were in Cleveland, with 36 residents of the city being killed by the drugs. Twenty-four suburban residents were killed by heroin and fentanyl. A list of the suburbs that had at least one overdose death last month is below.

Heroin and fentanyl is also killing more African-Americans in 2017 than it did in 2016. Through February 2016, fentanyl had killed 7 African-Americans. In 2017, fentanyl has already killed 26 African-Americans, representing 24 percent of total heroin and fentanyl deaths.

Currently, Northeast Ohio is on pace for a record number of overdose deaths in 2017. If the current pace holds, more than 800 residents will be killed by overdose this year. By comparison, in 2016, there are a projected 608 overdose deaths. In 2015, there were 370 overdose deaths.

Herion and fentanyl aren't the only drugs killing Northeast Ohioans. Cocaine overdoses doubled in 2016 versus 2015, growing from 115 to 225 or 230, depending on final test results. In 2017, there have been at least 70 overdose deaths from cocaine and 50 of those deaths saw the cocaine mixed with heroin, fentanyl, or both.

Here are the Ohio Northeast Ohio suburbs that had at least one opioid overdose death in February:

• Berea,
• Broadview Heights,
• Brook Park,
• Brooklyn,
• Euclid (3),
• Lakewood (2),
• Mayfield Heights (2),
• North Olmsted,
• North Royalton,
• Olmsted Township,
• Parma,
• South Euclid,
• Westlake
• Seven residents from outside Cuyahoga County – Brunswick (2), Eastlake, Macedonia, Northfield, Wickliffe, and Willowick.

You can see the full report from the Cuyahoga County Examiner here.

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