Police Investigating Possible Overdose Death In Lakewood

LAKEWOOD, OH — Lakewood police are investigating the death of a 38-year-old resident. A department spokesperson said the man's death may have been the result of a drug overdose.

Heroin and hydrocodone may have led to the man's death, the spokesperson said. No foul play is suspected.

Overdose deaths had begun to slow considerably in Lakewood prior to the new coronavirus prompted a stay-at-home order, the spokesperson said.

In the age of COVID-19, Ohio health officials have repeatedly said people battling mental health issues — like drug addiction — are at heightened risk. To try and expand the reach of mental health professionals, the state has loosened its rules around telehealth — in this case, counseling delivered over the phone or through the computer.

In Cuyahoga County, the Alcohol Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS)Board offered the following resources:

• You can call Cuyahoga County's 24-Hour Warmline at 440-886-5950 to talk though things with a peer.
• You can text "4hope" to 741741, the Crisis Text Line.
• If you are in crisis: Please call the 24-hour Suicide Prevention, Mental Health/Addiction Crisis, Information and Referral Hotline at 216-623-6888.

Many group meetings for people struggling with addiction have been moved online. The ADAMHS Board offers links to all of those groups through their website. Ohioans can also download the Recovery app for more resources.