A case study for local data surveillance in opioid overdose fatalities in Cuyahoga County, OH 2016-2020.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Fentanyl and fentanyl analogs have increased the overdose mortality rates in the United States, significantly impacting states like Ohio. We examined carfentanil overdose deaths, other contributing Cause of Death (COD) drugs, and drug seizure trends from 2016 to 2020 in Northeast Ohio.

Materials and methods

We studied death investigation data from the Cuyahoga County, Ohio Medical Examiner's Office (CCMEO) of all fatal accidental opioid overdoses as well as drug seizure data from Cuyahoga County Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (CCRFSL). We also compared decedents' race, gender, age, residential locality, drugs contributing to the COD in opioid cases, and for carfentanil, fentanyl, and cocaine seizures in Cuyahoga County from 2016 to 2020 (N = 2948).<

SUBMITTER: Noriega I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10498169 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature