Drug overdose deaths in state, local counties rising

101716 Heroin stats

The number of unintentional drug overdose deaths in Ohio has risen each year since 2009, according to data provided by the Ohio Department of Health. Heroin death rates have increased every year since 2006.

Portage County’s drug overdose death rate has grown each year since 2011, steadily rising from six to 36 in 2015. In 2013, Summit County’s drug overdose death total was at 76, but jumped to 118 the next year and 173 in 2015. Data for 2016 is incomplete.

This report includes statistics spanning other drugs, although heroin overdoses accounted for roughly 47 percent of statewide overdose deaths last year.

Other statistics:

  • 1,424 people in Ohio died of a heroin overdose last year, up 16 percent from 2014.

  • Fentanyl-related drug overdoses is cited as a major factor for the rise in overdose deaths in 2015. 1,155 deaths were fentanyl-related last year, a stark contrast from 503 deaths in the year prior. Summit and Portage counties were among 10 counties that overdosed the most.

  • Nationwide, the age-adjusted drug overdose death rate has more than doubled since 2000.