COLUMBUS – The Franklin County Coroner’s Office has reported five overdose deaths within a 17-hour period this week.
Between the hours of 5:21 p.m. on Thursday and 9:59 Friday morning, there were five apparent overdose deaths in the county, Coroner Dr. Anahi Ortiz said.
Toxicology tests are being conducted to confirm if the deaths were fentanyl-related, Ortiz said.
Three of the deaths were reported on the North Side of Columbus, the other two on the South Side and in southwest Franklin County.
Ortiz encourages residents who are addicted to opiates or have users among their family members or friends to make sure they obtain Naloxone, the lifesaving medication for opiate overdoses, which is available at any pharmacy without a prescription at a cost or by using their health insurance.
Franklin County Public Health, along with Project DAWN (Deaths Avoided with Naloxone), will also provide free naloxone after a brief training.