Tuscarawas County is outpacing numbers at the state and federal levels when it comes to reducing overdose deaths.
A new CDC report with the latest numbers show overdose deaths nationwide dropped 27 percent from 2023 to 2024. In Ohio during that time, they went down more than 35 percent.
Tuscarawas County ADAMHS Board Director Natalie Bollon says overdose deaths in Tuscarawas County decrease from about 23 in 2023, to 11 the following year.
“You want that number to be zero and we will continue to work until that number is zero, but to tell you that we have decreased deaths by more than 50% is a pretty fantastic feeling.”
She credit numerous agencies partnering to focus on prevention and recovery services, along with the creation of the local Hope Line at 330-663-6812.
Access to federal funding has also been crucial.
“We can only do what we’re able to build and sustain with the funding that we have but when funding comes in that allows us to be creative and think outside of the box to meet the needs of the residents.”
The CDC report credits possible factors for the decline such as increased availability of the overdose reversal drug naloxone, expanded addiction treatment, and also the impact of billions of dollars in opioid lawsuit settlement money.
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