Local overdose numbers mirror national trend with new concerns

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – The U.S. Centers for Disease Control reported Wednesday that overdose deaths in the U.S. are down. And while that trend is showing up locally, new concerns are showing up in the numbers.

About 107,500 people died of overdoses in the U.S. last year, including both American citizens and non-citizens who were in the country at the time they died, the CDC estimated. That’s down 3% from 2022, when there were an estimated 111,000 such deaths, the agency said.

Locally, Trumbull County reported in March 2024 that there were 112 overdoses in 2023 , that’s down from 2022 when there were 125, but the lowest number in the last five years was in 2019 with 92. There were 116 in 2020 and 117 in 2021.

The county reported an “alarming” increase in overdoses over the summer. Health officials say that fentanyl is showing up in more street drugs, which is having an impact.

At the same time as overdose deaths declined in Trumbull County, the suicide rate increased. There were 32 suicides in 2023, that’s up from 25 in 2022 and the highest number since 2019 when 32 were also recorded.

Experts reacted cautiously to the new CDC report. One described the decline as relatively small and said it should be thought of more as part of a leveling off than a decrease. Another noted that the last time a decline occurred — in 2018 — drug deaths shot up in the years that followed.

Mahoning County launched an Opioid Dashboard in February 2024. Right now, it is showing 156 overdose deaths in 2023, with fentanyl being the primary drug of abuse. Like Trumbull County, Mahoning County saw a spike in the summer.

There have been 1,500 overdose deaths in Mahoning County since 2007, according to the dashboard.

Mercer and Lawrence counties were among 19 counties across Pennsylvania where the overdose death rate exceeded the state average of 3.96% , according to the Pennsylvania Department of Healt

There were 5,146 overdose deaths in Pennsylvania in 2022; of them, 78% were opioid-related. Statistics show Lawrence County with the highest overdose death rate at 9.8% in 2022, behind Philadelphia County at 9.0%. Mercer County was at 4.3%.

Anyone wanting a Narcan kit can request one through the Ohio Department of Health . More information on the overdose reversal drug and how to obtain it in Pennsylvania can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Health website.

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