Displaying items by tag: Opiates

Summit County officials estimate that 2016 was a record-setting year for the number of drug overdose deaths in the county. 

Tests are still being conducted, and won't be completed until Spring, 2017, but officials estimate the total number of overdose deaths is somewhere between 225 and 250 for 2016. That would be an 11.3% increase over 2015, according to officials. 

Dr. Margo Erme with Summit County Public Health says, while the numbers are not surprising, there needs to be concentrated effort from health officials, law enforcement, and the public. "There is no one solution," Erme says. "We did not get to the situation overnight and it's multifactorial as to how we got here, so there is not going to be a single fix. 

Dr. Erme notes the number of visits to Summit County emergency departments that were attributed to drug overdoses was about 2,423. She says that has a lot to do with the prevalence of more deadly drugs, including fentanyl and carfental. 

On Wednesday, the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy released information regarding the availability of naloxone (Narcan), the potentially life-saving opiate-overdose antidote drug, in pharmacies statewide. 

The press release stated that more than 1,300 pharmacies in 84 counties throughout Ohio offer naloxone. Recently added to the participating pharmacies were Giant Eagle and Rite Aid stores, which has increased that number. 

Naloxone is described as a safe medication that holds the potential to reverse an overdose that is caused by prescription opioids, heroin, and/or fentanyl. If the drug is administered while a patient is overdosing, it blocks the effects of the opioids on the brain and can restore breathing in a matter of minutes in some cases. 

"I am pleased that pharmacies throughout Ohio are recognizing the importance of offering this life-saving medication," said State Board of Pharmacy Executive Director Steven W. Shierholt. 

Recently, Ohio Governor John Kasich signed House Bill 4 into law, allowing pharmacies to dispense naloxone without a prescription. As a direct result of the law, and now with the addition of Giant Eagle and Rite Aid, 65% of Ohio pharmacies (1,374) carry the drug. 

On Wednesday, as part of International Overdose Awareness Day, Summit County Public Health hosted a press conference to announce the donation of 40,000 "pill pouches" to Summit County for people to dispose of their unused medications, primarily opiates. Summit County Community Partnership Executive Director Darryl Brake hosted the event, and explained that while Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals is based out of Missouri, one phone call was all it took to get the company to recognize the seriousness of the opiate addiction problem in Summit County and donate the bags. 

At the press conference, Kevin Webb, Director of Advocacy Relations for Mallinckrodt, explained that the prescription disposal bags would be available beginning Wednesday locally. As part of their efforts to help the situation locally, Acme Fresh Markets is making the bags available, at no charge, at all 16 of their locations throughout the area. 

Brake says if the bags are used as intended and filled to capacity, more than 1.3 million prescription pills will be disposed of properly, and taken off the streets and out of the hands of those who can easily misuse them.

Hear more from Kevin Webb from Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals and Summit County ADM Board Executive Director Jerry Craig. They discuss the new disposable pill pouches and the seriousness of the opioid addiction problem here locally: