Powerful opiate blamed for 200 Trumbull County overdoses

As Trumbull County tries to cope with rising coronavirus cases, health officials have another crisis to deal with.

The Trumbull County Combined Health District and the Trumbull County Mental Health and Recovery Board are reporting an increase in overdoses in the county for the months of May and June.

“There were 90 total overdoses in the month of May and 107 in the month of June,” said Frank Migliozzi, health commissioner of the Trumbull County Combined Health District. “This is the highest number of overdoses we’ve seen since our deadliest year in 2017.”

The spike is attributed to the powerful opiate fentanyl being mixed with other substances, primarily cocaine, according to April Caraway, executive director of the Trumbull County Mental Health and Recovery Board.

“You can’t see, taste, or smell fentanyl and there is no “safe” drug use. But, there are many treatment options here and I implore people to get the addiction treatment they need,” said Caraway.

Fentanyl is a drug much stronger than heroin. It is a potent synthetic opioid with a rapid onset that can cause prolonged respiratory distress. “In toxicology reviews for 2020, fentanyl has appeared in every fatal overdose,” said Migliozzi.

Those needing help may contact the Help Network of NE Ohio at 211 day or night.

If you need an assessment and linked to detox or treatment, call the Coleman Access Center at 330-392-1100.

To obtain overdose prevention education and a free Project DAWN Kit, call the Trumbull County Combined Health District at 330-675-2489