The Overdose Prevention program works to build local capacity to improve public health response to drug overdose and the substance use epidemic in Lucas County.
TLCHD’s overdose prevention strategies include:
- Coalition building and collaboration
- Community-wide naloxone distribution
- Data collection, analysis, and distribution
- Syringe service programming
The Local Impact of the Drug Epidemic
Substance use and overdose are serious concerns in Ohio. Ohio has historically faced significant challenges with high rates of drug overdose, driven by the misuse of prescription pills aimed at reducing pain, heroin, and fentanyl. Synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, are a major contributor to overdose deaths. Many overdoses in Ohio involve a mix of drugs, such as fentanyl combined with stimulants like cocaine or methamphetamine, increasing the complexity of the crisis.
To understand the issue on a local level, the health department partners with the Lucas County Coroner’s Office to review overdose fatalities that have occurred within the county. In 2023, Lucas County saw 246 opioid-related overdose fatalities. Fentanyl is responsible for roughly 96% of fatal opioid-related overdoses in Lucas County.
If you’d like to request aggregate overdose data, please complete this form.
You can find more information, including local and state-wide data, here.
