The Akron area may be experiencing a recovery from a spike of drug overdoses this summer that authorities attribute to a potent narcotic’s introduction to the local drug market.
According to data provided by Summit County Public Health, there were 245 drug overdoses in the county in October, down from the almost 400 overdoses logged each month from July to September. That’s about 40 percent fewer overdoses compared to the previous three months.
Though October could mark the start of recovery, it still logged almost triple the overdoses counted in the months prior to July. From January to June, the county logged an average of 88 overdoses per month.
The spike in overdoses occurred simultaneously with a deadly drug’s tour through Summit County. According to the Summit County Medical Examiner’ Office, 73 people are confirmed to have died this year from overdoses on carfentanil — a controlled substance with legal uses that include sedating large animals. Hundreds of others are thought to have suffered nonfatal overdoses.
Akron Police Chief James Nice said he’s unsure what caused October’s dip in overdoses.
“We think maybe supply or demand is changing, or loads of dope might be less dangerous or cut not as aggressively. That’s our best guess,” he said. “Heroin addicts are still getting dope, but we think this drop has to do with the potency or the dangerousness of the supply that’s out there.”
In the months since carfentanil surfaced in Akron, Nice has redirected resources to a new overdose task force. Among many duties, members of the unit interview overdose victims to attempt to determine who sold them the dangerous drugs.
“We can’t do everything, but people are dying from heroin and we started seeing gaps where we should be doing more,” Nice said. “They’re collecting great intelligence.”
According to a Beacon Journal analysis of the county data, almost three-fourths of the county’s overdoses this year have happened since carfentanil appeared.
The city of Akron is disproportionately affected by overdose: About 60 percent of the overdose victims are Akron residents, but the city makes up just 40 percent of the county’s population.
A Summit County resident has overdosed on drugs every four hours on average this year.
Nick Glunt can be reached at 330-996-3565 or nglunt@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @NickGluntABJ and on Facebook @JournoNickGlunt .