According to a recent report from the Ohio Department of Health, in 2018, fatal drug overdoses in Adams County decreased. The report states that in 2018, 11 fatal overdoses were reported. This number decreased as 2017 statistics show 14 fatal overdoses were reported, and in 2016, 12 fatal overdoses were reported.
A map showing the rates per capita of drug deaths in each Ohio county. The report was released by the Ohio Department of Health in December.
Although the overall number of fatal overdoses in Adams County decreased, Adams County still has one of the highest rates per capita in Ohio with a rate of 43.4%, placing Adams County as the 10th highest. Neighboring counties also show high rates of deaths, Brown County has a rate of 54.9% and a placement 2nd highest, and Scioto County has a rate of 48.2% and a placement of 5th highest.
The report also shows that fatal drug overdoses in Ohio fell nearly 22% in 2018, to the lowest number in three years. Overdose deaths also dropped in every category of drugs except one. Opioids such as prescription opioids, illicit fentanyl, and heroin were reported as the leading drug associated with fatal drug overdoses.
The Ohio Department of Health says 3,764 Ohioans died of drug overdoses in 2018.
