Overdose Deaths

Franklin County Public Health said it's uncommon to have three overdose deaths at once, but not unusual for overdose deaths to happen on Columbus’ west side.

Most adolescent overdose deaths happen in the home, often when family and friends are present.

Overdose deaths here in Franklin County have returned to where they were before the pandemic. But even though the overall numbers are dropping, deaths continue to rise among Black and Hispanic residents of Franklin County.

Franklin County Coroner data shows cocaine overdose deaths are increasing in Franklin County. Fentanyl still remains the main driver of overdose deaths, but that number is decreasing.

Ohio joins a growing number of states are decriminalizing fentanyl testing strips, seeking to protect people who use drugs from unwitting exposure to the highly potent synthetic opioid ravaging the U.S. with overdose deaths.

The Biden administration will use data from EMS first responders to track overdoses. The focus will be on improving response to a public health crisis that kills more than 100,000 Americans annually.

Black people had the second highest overdose death rate in 2020. In Franklin County drug deaths among blacks were up 55%.

New numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that synthetic opioid use is driving the overdose crisis in the U.S.

Last year is likely to have been the deadliest year for drug overdoses ever in Ohio, according to a projection from the CDC.

Overdose deaths in Franklin County increased by nearly 50% in 2020. Over the past 3 years, the rate has jumped by close to 84%.