( Hamilton County, OH ) - Overdose activity continues to increase in Hamilton County.
As of 1:00 am March 18, a total of 36 drug-related ED visits among Hamilton County residents occurred during the previous 24 hours.
No deaths have been reported at this time.
Local public health partners and the Hamilton County Heroin Coalition are updating an alert issued on March 17 to continue to facilitate increased community awareness and advise first responders, healthcare providers, and substance users and their families of the increased risk for overdose in our community.
This alert should serve as a notice to consider adjusting response capacity and implementing necessary protective measures which should include:
• having available and using necessary personal protective equipment
• avoid using street drugs alone
• carrying naloxone and being prepared to use multiple doses when necessary.
Currently, the cause of this recent spike is unknown. However, the increased risk is evident and drawing upon recent past increases in activity, a change in the composition of illicit street drugs in our community is likely including mixtures of opiates, fentanyl, carfentanil, and other synthetics.