Stark County has received both good news and bad news as we continue to struggle in this epic battle against the harrowing opioid epidemic.
Overdose deaths in Ohio decreased 5% in 2022, but still remain at a staggering number of 4,915 lives, which follows the state record of 5,174 deaths the year before.
Sadly, the number of overdose deaths in Stark County rose 11%, which exceeds the national increase of 1%. We lost 159 members of our community due to this deplorable crisis, leaving so many families heartbroken.
The United States has the highest rate of opioid deaths in the world and these statistics are a grim reminder that we all need to stop and take a serious look and ask why so many lives are being destroyed and what we can do.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, continues to be our most devastating foe. I often say, it’s the “devil on earth.” It is responsible for 81% of unintentional drug overdoses.
Illicit fentanyl appears to be the driving force in terms of the increase in fatalities. Unfortunately, in our courtrooms over the past year, judges have witnessed a large increase in the volume of fentanyl poisoning our community — fentanyl which is being shipped in from China and Mexico.