At Least 52 Fatal Overdoses Through September

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

At least 14 fatalities since October 1st

CLEVELAND –Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas Gilson today announced Cuyahoga County suffered at least 52 fatal overdoses in the month of September due to heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil, or a combination of the three. This ties the record for the highest number of opioid-related (heroin, fentanyl, and carfentanil) fatalities in a single month – previously set in August (2016). Pending further case testing, it’s possible September overdoses could surpass 52, making it the deadliest month due to opioid overdoses Cuyahoga County has ever seen.

September residential demographics are as follow:

23 – City of Cleveland Residents

29 – Suburban Residents

Brook Park, Brooklyn, Cleveland Heights, East Cleveland, Euclid (3), Lakewood (4), Lyndhurst, Maple Heights, Mayfield Heights (2), Middleburgh Heights, North Olmsted (3), North Royalton, Olmsted Falls, Parma, Parma Heights, South Euclid, Strongsville and 3 out of county residents – Chillicothe, Cincinnati, and Traphill (NC).

Furthermore, Cuyahoga County has experienced at least 14 overdose deaths since October 1st.

To date, at least 385 victims have died in 2016, far exceeding the 228 from 2015. Additionally, lab results have confirmed that at least 4 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.

No further details are currently available and cases are still under investigation and testing. For additional information and to view the complete report, please visit:

http://medicalexaminer.cuyahogacounty.us/pdf_medicalexaminer/en-US/100716CCMEOHeroinFentanylUpdate.pdf


  
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