Opioid Crisis: More Accidental Overdoses and Overdose Deaths

A new report shows that there were more than 4,000 overdose deaths in Ohio.

The opioid crisis is one of the biggest problems the United States is currently facing. In the last few years, thousands of lives have been taken by opioids. A new report shows that there were more than 4,000 overdose deaths in Ohio. This state is one of the most affected by the opioid crisis.

Overdose Deaths

The number of overdose deaths seems to increase every year, despite considerable efforts made by state officials. Ohio saw a 36% increase in overdose deaths since 2015. Two years ago, more than 3,000 cases were reported. In 2016, more than 4,149 overdose deaths were linked with opioid overdose or consumption. This year, authorities are concerned that the number of deaths caused by opioids will only be higher.

Another report, conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, shows that Ohio had the biggest incidence of overdose deaths in the US in the last 2 years. Synthetic opioids like carfentanil and fentanyl were the more likely culprits. These drugs are more powerful than heroin and morphine, and significantly cheaper. Nevertheless, just a small amount can kill a person.

Police officers and investigators observed that many drug dealers are presently selling fentanyl-laced heroin. Unsuspecting buyers get more than they bargain for when preparing and injecting the substance which, in normal conditions, if 50 to 100 times more potent than what they were accustomed to.

Accidental Overdoses

Cops have a hard time protecting themselves from the opioid crisis. Since fentanyl and carfentanil hit the market, officers are also at risk. Carfentanil, for instance, is actually an elephant tranquilizer. When it comes into contact with the skin, a very small amount can prove fatal, especially since the epiderm absorbs the substance. Several police officers overdosed at the scenes after touching objects laced with carfentanil.

An Ohio officer accidentally overdosed after he brushed off some white powder from his shirt. The white powder was fentanyl-laced heroin belonging to a man that was arrested earlier that night. Several doses of Narcan were used to revive the officer.

Another policeman overdosed on 19 May, after he was at the scene of a suspected opioid overdose. The man started feeling sick seconds after he started searching for drugs at the scene. To revive him, the paramedics used several doses of Narcan. Even the paramedic that helped the police officer needed treatment for exposure to drugs.

Image source: Wikipedia

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Karen Jackson

Karen Jackson has always been passionate about technology. All the way through high-school she immersed herself in computers and web-design. Her ambitious nature helped her become a pro in Adobe Photoshop only by watching online videos and working with the program herself. This is also the program that she mostly uses in the creation of websites at her work-place. Technological innovation and gadgets that push the boundaries of what we are comfortable with have always fascinated her, so expect to see some weird gadget reviews coming from her.