Contacts:
Christopher Harris: (216) 443-7157 or cbharris@cuyahogacounty.us

August overdose deaths set the highest monthly fatality rate ever in Cuyahoga County

CLEVELAND –The 2016 Labor Day Weekend saw at least 10 deaths due to heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil, or some combination and 14 for the month of September so far.

No further details are currently available and cases are still under investigation and testing. 

 

Death Date Month	Death Date Day	Death Date Year	Gender	Age	Race	Residence City
09	01	2016	Male	56 years	Black	Lakewood
09	01	2016	Male	33 years	White	Cleveland
09	02	2016	Male	25 years	White	Cleveland
09	02	2016	Male	37 years	White	Cleveland
09	02	2016	Male	34 years	White	Cleveland
09	03	2016	Male	36 years	White	Cleveland
09	03	2016	Male	45 years	White	Cleveland
09	03	2016	Male	64 years	White	Cleveland
09	04	2016	Male	59 years	Black	Cleveland
09	05	2016	Female	28 years	White	Moreland Hills
09	05	2016	Male	36 years	White	Parma
09	05	2016	Female	29 years	White	Cleveland
09	06	2016	Female	18 years	White	Olmsted Falls
09	07	2016	Male	36 years	White	Brook Park

Additionally, Cuyahoga County suffered at least 52 fatal overdoses in the month of August due to heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil, or a combination of three – the highest fatality rate for opioid (heroin, fentanyl, and carfentanil) overdoses in a single month.

Lab results now confirm that at least 2 Cuyahoga County overdose deaths are due to carfentanil, a large animal sedative, 100 times more deadly than fentanyl and 2500 times more deadly than heroin. To date, there are at least 330 fatalities in 2016 compared to 228 in 2015, and projected to be near 500 by years end.

For additional information and to view the complete report, please visit: http://medicalexaminer.cuyahogacounty.us/pdf_medicalexaminer/en-US/August2016-HeroinFentanylUpdate.pdf