Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas Gilson issued a public health warning Nov. 8 after the county suffered at least 12 suspected overdose deaths in a two-day period.
The 12 suspected overdose deaths occurred between Nov. 6 and Nov. 7, according to the medical examiner’s office. The age range of those who died of suspected overdoses was 27 to 78. Ten of the 12 who died were Cleveland residents. The other two were Euclid and Garfield Heights residents.
“This recent trend of clustered overdoses is alarming,” Gilson said in a statement. “There were an additional 4 on Thursday (Nov. 4) of last week. It remains to be seen what the cause is, but the public should be aware that there is a serious threat to their lives if they are using street drugs right now in Cuyahoga County.”
Expedited forensic testing is underway to confirm which drug or drugs may have caused the recent spike, according to a news release from the medical examiner’s office. The county is currently on pace to suffer at least more than 700 total overdose deaths in 2021.
If the pace holds it would be the second time the county surpassed 700 overdose deaths in a single year. The county saw a record 727 total overdose deaths in 2017.
The medical examiner’s office stated that fentanyl test strips and the overdose reversal medication naloxone will work with most fentanyl analogs. A list of walk-in clinics can be found at https://www.testyourdrugscc.com and https://www.metrohealth.org/office-of-opioid-safety/project-dawn.
The Cuyahoga County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board provides a 24-hour crisis hotline at 216-623-6888.
