As cited by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States is in the midst of an opioid overdose epidemic. Opioids (including prescription opioids and heroin) killed more than 72,000 people in 2017, more than any year on record. There are 91 Americans that die every day from an opioid overdose.
Unintentional drug overdose continues to be the leading cause of injury-related death in Ohio, ahead of motor vehicle traffic crashes - a trend which began in 2007. In 2017, drug overdoses caused the deaths of 4,854 Ohio residents compared to 4,050 in 2016. Lorain County, like most other counties in Ohio has seen a significant spike in overdose deaths from opiate (including heroin).
The use of naloxone (aka narcan), the opiate reversal drug, has been vital to saving lives. In 2017, Ohio EMS personnel administered 47,395 doses of naloxone compared to 31,834 in 2016. More than one dose of naloxone may have been administered to a single patient to reverse the opiate overdose.
The City of North Ridgeville felt it important to share the national, state and county statistics before introducing the local statistics on the administered doses of narcan. Yes, this does hit close to home! This webpage was designed to increase awareness of this issue and to share resources that are available to prevent drug addiction and assist drug overdose patients with treatment options and community resources.
City of North Ridgeville
| Year | # of Narcan Patients |
| 2020 | 12 (as of 6/2/2020) |
| 2019 | 77 |
| 2018 | 68 |
| 2017 | 100 |
| 2016 | 103 |
| 2015 | 56 |