Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas Gilson has issued a public health alert after five people died of suspected drug overdoses within a 12-hour period Thursday.
The dead included two women and three men between the ages of 32 and 70, according to a press release from the medical examiner's office.
鈥淒rug overdoses continue to be a problem in our community with periodic clusters of deaths like yesterday,鈥� Gilson warned. 鈥淚ndividuals should avoid using illicit drugs or use a harm reduction plan in the event they are unable to stop using. Treatment can help with long-term sobriety.鈥�
The medical examiner's office recommended the following to reduce the risk of harm.
- Keep the overdose reversal drug Naloxone and fentanyl test strips on hand. Fentanyl test strips will also detect fentanyl analogs. .
- Don鈥檛 use alone. The risk of fatally overdosing is much lower if another person is monitoring.
- Sit upright when using. Sitting upright can reduce the chances of slumping forward, which can cause airway obstruction.
- Call 911. The Good Samaritan Law provides immunity for minor drug possession or drug paraphernalia offenses for both the person who overdosed and the person who called 911 for help.
- Seek help. Addiction is treatable like other chronic diseases. Treatment might vary but recovery is possible. The Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Cuyahoga County provides a 24-hour crisis hotline at 216-623-6888.
Recovery from addiction is possible. For help, please call the free and confidential treatment referral hotline (1-800-662-HELP), or visit findtreatment.gov
