COLUMBUS – Local health officials say there has been a spike in drug overdoses in Franklin County this year and the coronavirus outbreak may be at least partly to blame.
There was a 50 percent increase in drug overdose deaths between January 1 and April 15, with 62 drug overdose deaths reported in April alone, according to Franklin County Coroner Dr. Anahi Ortiz and Columbus Public Health.
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The problem was illustrated by a dramatic spike in overdose-related emergency-room visits over a 24- hour period from May 1 to May 2.
There were 28 suspected overdose ER visits in Franklin County, Ortiz said.
Ortiz says the COVID 19 pandemic has exposed “vulnerabilities and deficiencies in our addiction services” while increasing the mental health needs of drug users.
From January to April 15, we saw a 50% increase in fatal overdoses. For the month of April alone we saw 62 people die of overdoses.
Many of those who died were between 25 and 35 years of age, compared with 2019, when the majority of drug overdose deaths were among users 35 and up, Ortiz said.
“We need to push Narcan and even as important fentanyl test strips,” Ortiz wrote on her office’s Facebook page.
Much of the cocaine here in Franklin County is cut with fentanyl and sold without people knowing, she wrote.
Anyone struggling with addiction or who has a friend or family member using drugs is encouraged to visit www.columbus.gov/CFCAP for resources and support including mail order naloxone