Overdoses spike

SANDUSKY — The Erie County Health Department issued a warning Tuesday about a spike in drug overdose incidents in Sandusky and said free doses of naloxone are available to deal with emergencies. The report came as new figures from Harm Reduction Ohio, a nonprofit advocacy group, showed that drug overdose deaths jumped in 2020 both statewide and locally, apparently as a result of the pandemic. The health department said Tuesday morning there have been three drug overdoses reported, all in Sandusky. None of the incidents resulted in deaths, said Pete Schade, Erie County's health commissioner. It's possible there is fentanyl in local heroin supplies or another problem. The health department wanted to warn people struggling with addiction about the apparent danger, Schade said. "They've got an addiction. It shouldn't be a death sentence for them," Schade said. The health department's alert reminded local residents they can obtain naloxone to deal with overdoses of relatives and friends. "The Erie County Health Department offers free mail order naloxone at narcanerieohio.com for those who are at risk of an overdose and those who love them. Using alone increases the likelihood of a fatal overdose. Never use alone. Carry naloxone," the alert says. The alert also noted that people can begin their recovery in the health department's detox center by calling 419-624-3353. Since the COVID-19 pandemic reached Ohio, there have been numerous reports of a spike in drug overdose deaths, with many people apparently succumbing to the additional stress caused by the virus. Harm Reduction Ohio crunched the numbers and reported 2020 is shaping up as one of the state's worst years ever for drug overdoses. "More Ohio residents died from drug overdoses in May 2020 than in any month in Ohio history. The record-breaking death toll appears to be linked to stress, job loss and social isolation caused by the COVID-19," the group said in a news release on its website. "Preliminary Ohio Department of Health mortality data show that at least 543 Ohio residents died of drug overdoses in May 2020, exceeding the previous high of 484 deaths in January 2017," the group said. During the first seven months of 2020, drug overdose deaths were higher in Ohio than in the like month of 2019. Figures for the last few months of 2020 are still coming in; many laboratory reports take weeks to confirm the cause of death. Local figures tell a similarly grim story. According to statistics supplied to the Register by Harm Reduction Ohio, Erie County has had 17 drug overdose deaths so far in 2020, already exceeding the 16 tallied in 2019. Seneca County has 19 drug overdose deaths so far this year, versus 10 in 2019. Huron, Ottawa and Sandusky counties have not yet exceeded 2019 deaths. "No data yet exists supporting the idea that COVID-19 has spurred changes in drug use levels or patterns. However, many anecdotal reports from people who use drugs support this theory," said Dennis Cauchon, the founder and president of Harm Reduction Ohio. "What is known for certain is that overdose death broke a record in Ohio this May, during the heart of the pandemic, and remains tragically high. There is no evidence that Ohio is succeeding at reducing drug overdose death or even making notable progress," Cauchon said.