Ohio joins international recognition of overdose epidemic
August 30, 2021 | Lisa A. Frazier | addiction
Earlier this month, Governor DeWine signed Senate Bill 30, designating August 31 as Ohio Overdose Awareness Day. The Center for HOPES joins our colleagues and communities across Ohio in remembering the lives of those lost to overdose.
Unintentional drug overdose deaths are a leading cause of injury death in Ohio, surpassing motor vehicle crashes. The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with a surge in overdose deaths: Ohio recorded 5,215 deaths in 2020, a 23% increase over 2019.
Overdose deaths are preventable. Administration of naloxone is a key strategy to doing so. According to the State of Ohio, 10,400 overdose reversals have already been reported in 2021, demonstrating the effectiveness of this harm reduction strategy.
The Center for HOPES commends the State’s expansion of naloxone distribution to Ohio communities and joins Governor DeWine, RecoveryOhio, the Ohio Department of Health, and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services in encouraging all Ohioans to consider carrying naloxone.
The Center for HOPES participates in a number of research projects and initiatives related to overdose prevention and addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery.
- The HEALing Communities Study’s aim is to reduce opioid-related deaths in study communities by 40% over three years. In addition to coordinating cost-effectiveness analyses of study interventions, the Center leads Ohio’s efforts to identify policies and practices that may impact successful implementation of study interventions. Associate Director Kristin Harlow is Ohio Project Director for HCS.
- The Center continues to collaborate with other researchers from across Ohio State’s campus and stakeholders in the community to map opioid overdose incidents for the Franklin County Opioid Crisis Activity Levels (FOCAL) Map project. The team will be unveiling updated data to FOCAL Map this fall.
- Evaluator and Community Engagement Specialist Anne Trinh is Senior Program Manager for Ohio State University’s Addiction Innovation Fund.
Ohio’s observance of International Overdose Awareness Day leads into National Recovery Month in September. The evidence is clear that addiction is a chronic disease. With proper treatment and support, recovery is possible. Follow @CenterforHOPES on Twitter all month for a special spotlight on treatment and recovery research and resources. Learn more about this year’s theme, “Recovery is for everyone: Every person, every family, every community” and about Recovery Month at Ohio State.