So far in 2018: 95 overdoses, 20 overdose deaths in Richland County

MANSFIELD - There have been 95 unintentional overdoses — 20 of them fatal — in Richland County in the first quarter of 2018, significantly higher than the number reported a year earlier, according to METRICH.

The statistics are through April 5, 2018, according to a METRICH press release.

According to Richland Public Health records, there were six drug overdose deaths in the first three months of 2017: two in January 2017, none in February 2017 and four in March 2017.

October 2017 saw the highest number of drug overdose deaths in 2017, with nine deaths, according to Richland Public Health data.

According to the Richland County Coroner's Office, there were 49 total drug overdose deaths in 2017 and 64 in 2016.

According to Richland Public Health records, there were 46 drug overdose deaths in Richland County in 2017 and 61 in 2016.

Richland County Coroner Dr. Dan Burwell said the coroner's office had 50 confirmed drug overdoses in 2017, with four results on suspected overdose deaths still pending. The record of one death has not yet been received by Richland Public Health.

More: A deadly mix: Most of county's 2017 OD victims had used multiple drugs

Only eight of the 49 deaths reported by the coroner's office in 2017 involved a person who took only a single drug. Most people who died of drug overdoses in 2017 had multiple drugs in their systems.

The "vast majority" had fentanyl or fentanyl analogs, or knockoffs, in their systems, Burwell said.

Two pending Richland County drug overdose deaths are suspected to have been caused by marijuana laced with fentanyl, said Richland County coroner's investigator Bob Ball. The coroner's office has not yet received those toxicology reports.

"Fentanyl is what's killing people," Burwell said.

Richland Public Health offers resources for those at risk of opioid overdose. The health agency is a Project DAWN site, providing education and naloxone kits to at-risk individuals and their loved ones.

Call 419-774-4700 for more information on Project DAWN, which stands for Deaths Avoided with Naloxone.

Mansfield Fire Department Assistant Chief Mark Sieving said fire and rescue personnel administered naloxone 472 times in 2017, and 588 times in 2016.

METRICH is continuing to identify and target the sources bringing fentanyl into Richland County, according to the press release.

METRICH also encourages residents to report suspected drug activity by calling the METRICH Crime Tip Hotline at 419-52-CRIME (419-522-7463) or the Task Force line at 419-755-9728.

Those with questions about local addiction resources can call 211 or First Call 211's alternate line at 419-522-4636.

Those in crisis can call the county helpline at 419-522-HELP (419-522-4357).

"The METRICH Enforcement Unit wants to remind the public that help is available for those that are struggling with addiction," the METRICH press release states. "For those who have family members that are struggling with addiction, there are resources available in Richland County, Ohio."

Lou Whitmire contributed reporting.

ejmills@mansfieldnewsjournal.com

419-521-7205

Twitter: @EmilyMills818