COLUMBUS — Fatal drug overdoses in Ohio declined for a second consecutive year in 2023.
Newly released data from the Ohio Department of Health shows unintentional drug overdose deaths declined by 9% from 2022 to 2023, with 4,452 fatalities recorded last year.
Fatal drug overdoses peaked in 2021 with 5,174 deaths reported in Ohio, according to health department data.
The trend is evident in Allen County, which recorded 30 drug overdose fatalities last year, a 37% decline from the previous year, according to the Ohio health department’s 2023 unintentional drug overdose report, which was released Wednesday.
Allen County has reported 266 unintentional overdose deaths since 2014.
Gov. Mike DeWine said the data shows Ohio is “on the right track” during a press conference Wednesday.
“But we also recognize that our work is far from complete, that every overdose death remains a tragedy,” DeWine said. “These results further sharpen our resolve to continue our fight to save more lives.”
Fentanyl remains the leading cause of overdose fatalities, though fentanyl-related deaths declined by 12% last year.
Deaths attributed to natural or semi-synthetic opioids such as oxycodone and heroin declined as well, while deaths involving cocaine or benzodiazepines increased, according to the report.
Nationally, unintentional fatal drug overdoses declined by 2% in 2023.
State officials attribute the trend to expanded access to treatment services. There are now 125 opioid treatment providers in Ohio, compared to only 35 in 2019. There’s also expanded availability of opioid overdose-reversal medication naloxone, as well as other harm-reduction and drug enforcement efforts, according to a news release from the governor’s office.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol removed roughly 110,000 doses of opiates and 900 pounts of fentanyl since 2019.
Meanwhile, the Ohio Department of Health distributed 291,000 naloxone kits in 2023 through its Project DAWN initiative, which partners with local health departments such as Allen County Public Health to get the overdose-reversal agent to people most at-risk of experiencing or witnessing an overdose.
Naloxone restores breathing by reversing the effects of opioids, but the medication cannot reverse the effects of other drug types like stimulants or benzodiazepines.
“Despite the increase we’ve made in reducing overdose deaths, far too many Ohioans are still losing their lives, and many of those overdoses are preventable,” said Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, director of the Ohio Department of Health. “I urge every Ohioan to obtain naloxone and learn how to use it. It’s a simple step to save lives.”
Free naloxone kits are available through Allen County Public Health. Call 419-228-4457, or email [email protected] to schedule in-person pickup. Kits are also available through mail order at bit.ly/48x35zi.
