ALERT ISSUED FOR OVERDOSES

Medical Examiner: Region saw at least 69 overdose deaths in March

“This is a serious development and the community should be aware of this spike in overdose deaths. Some preliminary data suggests minority communities may be more vulnerable in this outbreak.” — Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas Gilson

Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas Gilson issued a public health alert after the county suffered at least 69 suspected overdose deaths in March.

Gilson said it is too early to project with certainty how many overdose deaths there will be this year, but the figures from the first quarter of 2021 put the county on pace to surpass 700 overdose deaths for the first time since 2017.

That year there were a record 727 overdose deaths in Cuyahoga. In the first quarter of 2017, the county saw 160 overdose deaths. The county saw the same number of overdose deaths in the first quarter of 2021, according to data from the medical examiner’s office.

Cuyahoga saw 50 overdose deaths this January, 41 in February and 69 in March, according to the medical examiner’s office. The 69 overdose deaths in March are a record, surpassing the 68 the county saw in May 2020.

There have been 13 overdose deaths in the first five days of April. Toxicology testing has not yet confirmed which drug or drugs have caused the recent spike.

The medical examiner’s office stated that in 2021, fentanyl, cocaine, and carfentanil were the most common drugs found in overdose deaths. Currently, fentanyl and cocaine appear to be the most common drugs found in overdose deaths.

“This is a serious development and the community should be aware of this spike in overdose deaths,” Gilson said in a statement. “Some preliminary data suggests minority communities may be more vulnerable in this outbreak. Risk reduction strategies like naloxone kits and fentanyl test strips are available at no cost and are effective at saving lives.”

The medical examiner’s office stated in a news release naloxone and fentanyl test strips are effective ways to reduce the risk of a fatal overdose.

Free fentanyl test strips can be found in four locations in Cleveland:

• Circle Health Services, 12201 Euclid Ave. (216-7214010)

• Care Alliance Clinic, 2916 Central Ave. (216-5359100)

• Care Alliance Clinic, 1530 St. Clair Ave. (216-7816724)

• MetroHealth – Mobile Unit, 3370 W.25th St.

In Cuyahoga, those who are actively using or recovering from opioid addiction (or know someone who is) can contact Project DAWN for information about the opioid overdose reversal medication naloxone. Eligible program participants are given free naloxone kits. Project DAWN can be reached at 216-778-5677.

Lake County’s Project DAWN program is run through the Lake County General Health District.

Due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the health district does not currently offer in-person clinics. Instead, the health district is offering online training and naloxone kit requests. Kits are mailed within 72 hours of approval of the request, according to the health district. Program coordinator Nikesha Yarbrough can be reached at nyarbrough@lcghd.org. The health district stated that those in immediate need of assistance should visit the Ohio Pharmacy Board website to find a local pharmacy that can dispense naloxone without a prescription.

2020 overdose deaths

According to preliminary data released in January by the medical examiner’s office, Cuyahoga County had 602 overdose deaths in 2020. That’s the third-highest total the county has seen after 2017 and 2016 (673 overdose deaths).

Cuyahoga has seen an increasing number of opioidrelated overdose deaths among Black residents over the past few years. One hundred Black residents died of fentanyl overdoses in 2017. There were 110 total opioid overdose deaths among Black residents that year.

The deaths dipped in 2018 (86 fentanyl deaths and 95 total opioid deaths), but increased over the past two years.

There were 119 fentanyl deaths and 130 total opioid overdose deaths among Black residents in 2019. There were 121 fentanyl deaths and 137 total opioid overdose deaths in 2020.

Among Cuyahoga’s overall overdose deaths in 2020 there were 437 involving fentanyl.

There were 124 that involved a combination of heroin and fentanyl. There were 148 involving a combination of cocaine and fentanyl.

SOURCE: CUYAHOGA COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE