CUYAHOGA COUNTY, Ohio — Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas GIlson has issued a public health warning after a recent uptick in drug overdoses.
The alert comes after five suspected overdoses occurred on Thursday, June 1, within a 12-hour period.
“Drug overdose continues to be a problem in our community with periodic clusters of deaths like yesterday,” Dr. Gilson warned. “Individuals should avoid using illicit drugs or use a harm reduction plan in the event they are unable to stop using. Treatment can help with long-term sobriety.”
The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office tells 3News that if the overdose death rate continues at this pace, the county is expected to see 750 overdose deaths in 2023.
Thursday's cluster of overdoses included three men and two women, ranging between 38 and 70 years old. Three of the individuals lived in Cleveland, while the others were from Broadview Heights and Parma.
The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office offered tips for helping anyone that is actively using or recovering from an opioid addiction:
- Have Naloxone and fentanyl test strips ready. Naloxone and fentanyl test strips will work with most fentanyl analogues
- Don’t use drugs alone. There is a much higher risk of fatally overdosing if another person is not monitoring
- Sit upright. Sitting upright can reduce the risk of slumping forward in an overdose – potentially causing airway obstruction
- Call 911 (Good Samaritan). The Good Samaritan Law provides immunity for a minor drug possession or drug paraphernalia offense for the person who overdosed and the person who called 911 to seek help
- Seek Treatment. As with most chronic diseases, addiction in treatable. While treatment may vary upon an individual’s needs, recovery is possible
Additionally, the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga County has a 24-hour crisis hotline at 216-623-6888.
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