The Franklin County Coroner’s office says preliminary overdose death statistics for 2018 show little change from the previous year.
The office says in a news releasee 522 people died of drug-related overdoses, up by two from 2017. Opiate-related deaths accounted for nearly 92 percent, with fentanyl accounting for 79 percent of deaths. In the same period for 2017, opiates accounted for 87.8% and fentanyl accounted for 61% of overdose deaths. Carfentanil-related overdose deaths decreased in 2018 to 1.1%, whereas, in the same period for 2017 they accounted for 18.5%. Heroin-related deaths also decreased to 12.2% from 15.9% in 2017.
Cocaine, methamphetamine and benzodiazepine-related overdose deaths increased in 2018 compared to 2017.
- Cocaine: 39.4% vs 35%
- Methamphetamines: 10.3% vs 4.9%
- Benzodiazepines: 6.7% vs 4%
Looking at race and ethnicity, 22% of those who died of overdose deaths were African American, an increase of 2% from 2017. Hispanics also saw an increase in overdose deaths from 1% in 2017 to 3% in 2018. The Caucasian population saw a decrease in overdose deaths from 78% in 2017 to 74% in 2018.The top five zip codes with the highest number of deaths were 43207, 43204, 43223, 43206 and 43228.
