Displaying items by tag: opiate abuse

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control spotlights drug OD's in Ohio -- in particular the epidemic of opiate abuse.

In just one year fentanyl deaths jumped from 84 -- to 502, and that number is from 2014. That makes Fentanyl more potent than smack.

In Summit County, the Department of Public Health says the agency already works together with other partners to deal with the growth of opiate abuse here.

Medical director Dr. Margo Erme says they'll go over the report to see what else can be done.

"We'll take some time to look over the suggestions, to see what we're already doing, what we can improve upon," Dr. Erme tells WAKR.net, "and what we may be able to initiate with our partners."

Dr. Erme says Summit County has a "strong community" dedicated to working on the abuse problem.

One project already underway is "Project Dawn", which provides opiate reversal mediation to users, friends and families of those at risk for overdoses.