COLUMBUS – The Franklin County Coroner’s Office has reported another spike in overdose deaths over a period of nine hours.
Dr. Anahi Ortiz reported Saturday afternoon that her office recorded five overdose deaths in between 3:00 p.m. Friday and 12:30 a.m. Saturday.
Most of the deaths occurred on the east side of Columbus, Ortiz said.
She did not say whether any of the deaths could be attributed to the powerful opiate fentanyl but she encouraged drug user to take precautions.
“We know that most of the drugs in our area are mixed with fentanyl or fentanyl analogues. This includes cocaine and meth. Many of those who use may not be aware of this,” Ortiz said in a release from her office.
Ortiz urged those who use drugs to carry naloxone or Narcan, never use alone and to test their substances with testing strips designed to detect the presence of fentanyl.
Columbus Public Health provides a list of distributers of naloxone and fentanyl testing strips as well as other resources and information.