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If you or anyone you know is dealing with a substance use or mental health crisis, dial 988 immediately. There is hope.
August 31, 2024, marked the fourth annual Ohio Overdose Awareness Day
Ohio Overdose Awareness Day coincides with International Overdose Awareness Day, in its 23rd year of existence. Both Overdose Awareness Days look to raise awareness of the overdose crisis, support communities in the fight against drug addiction, and to honor those lost to the epidemic. In recognition of Overdose Awareness Day, we are going to cover the extent of the overdose crisis in Ohio and highlight actions we can all take to prevent future overdoses.
Scope of the overdose crisis
Opioids kill more than 136 Americans every day. To put this into perspective, that is the equivalent of losing a full Boeing 737-700 or Airbus A319 in their standard two-class configuration daily. Imagine the last time you flew, and the flight was full—approximately that many people die a day from unintentional opioid overdoses. Ohio is one of the states hit hardest by the opioid epidemic, losing 40,841 individuals between 2001 and 2022, the last year with complete data. During 2022, 4,915 lives were lost from unintentional drug overdoses, of which, 81% or 3,963 involved opioids.
During 2022, 4,915 lives were lost from unintentional drug overdoses, of which, 81% or 3,963 involved opioids.
The impact of losing people to unintentional drug overdoses is truly immeasurable, especially to the families of those who have lost their life, but researchers at The Ohio State University tried to calculate the cost of the impact of the opioid epidemic. The researchers estimated that in 2015, the total cost of opioid abuse and dependency ranged from $6.6 billion to $8.8 billion—$560 to $756 per capita in Ohio.
Research can estimate the total cost of the opioid epidemic, but it is impossible to truly put the price on losing our neighbors, friends, parents, siblings, coworkers, primary income earners, caretakers, and support networks. The opioid epidemic is widespread and affects us all, which is why it is all our responsibility to help ensure we are limiting unintentional overdose deaths.
Three steps to prevent future overdoses
1. The first step to prevent future overdose is to know the signs of an opioid overdose. Opioid overdose is life-threatening and requires immediate attention. Common signs of opioid overdose include:
- Their body goes limp
- Their breathing or heartbeat slows or stops
- They start vomiting or making gurgling noises
- Their face is extremely pale and/or feels clammy to the touch
- Their fingernails or lips have a purple or blue color
- They cannot be awakened or are unable to speak
2. Recognizing the signs of an opioid overdose is necessary for step two, which is to carry Naloxone, encourage others to carry Naloxone, and know when to use it. Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids, including fentanyl and heroin. It works quickly and is extremely easy to use.
In the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Stop Overdose Campaign, they highlight that Naloxone will not harm someone if they are overdosing on drugs other than opioids. Naloxone only has effects for those overdosing on opioids and will not cause adverse effects to those on other drugs. While you yourself might not use drugs, you might come across someone who is experiencing an opioid overdose. Research shows that bystanders were present in more than one in three overdoses involving opioids.
Naloxone only has effects for those overdosing on opioids and will not cause adverse effects to those on other drugs.
3. The third step is to encourage individuals to use fentanyl test strips. Ohio legalized fentanyl test strips back in January 2023 to help individuals identify the presence of this fatal drug in their illicit drugs. The current wave of the overdose crisis, which is the fourth wave, has largely been driven by the presence of fentanyl in cocaine and meth. By testing for the presence of fentanyl, individuals can make an informed decision about their drug use and keep Naloxone on hand.
The opioid overdose epidemic is present in all communities in Ohio, and we can work together in preventing more unnecessary deaths. If “it takes a village,” our villages need to be able to recognize an opioid overdose and use Naloxone to prevent another needless death. As many advocates in this field say, dead people do not recover.
Resources
Free Naloxone/Fentanyl Test Strips: NaloxoneOhio or Project DAWN (Drug Abuse Warning Network)
SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-622-4357. Confidential, free, 24 hours day, 365 days a year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.
Ohio’s Take Charge Helpline: 1-877-275-6364. Confidential, free, 8:00am – 6:00pm, Monday – Friday. To get information about addiction and to get a referral to treatment.
Ohio’s Crisis Text Line: Text 4hope to 741741 and a trained crisis counselor will text you within five minutes to confidentially assist you.
Never Use Alone: 877-696-1996. Toll-free national overdose prevention, detection, life-saving crisis response and medical intervention services for people who use drugs while alone. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
