COLUMBUS – The number of overdose deaths in Franklin County increased during the first three months of 2019, compared to the same period a year ago, fueled by a rise in fentanyl-related deaths, according to the Franklin County Coroner’s Office.
Preliminary data released Thursday by Coroner Dr. Anahi Ortiz shows that there were 120 overdose deaths in the January 1-March 31 period, an 8 percent increase from the first quarter of 2018.
Opiates in general, and fentanyl in particular, continue to be the driving factors in the rise in fatal overdoses, Ortiz said. Opiates accounted for 90 percent of the deaths in the first quarter of 2019, an increase of 7 percent from a year ago and Fentanyl-related overdoses accounted for 76 percent of the deaths, an 8.5 percent rise, she said.
Ortiz said her office recorded a slight increase in carfentanil-related overdose deaths sand saw cocaine-related deaths increase while methamphetamine and ethanol-related deaths declined (see graph, above).
The pace of deaths appears to have slowed compared to 2018, when 522 overdose deaths were recorded in Franklin County.
Ohio saw a record 4,854 unintentional fatal overdoses in 2017, the most recent year for which statewide data is available.