Where does your county rank among Ohio’s 88 counties?
Ohio overdose death rates, by county, for three years: 2017-2019
Syringe programs re-opening, adding hours and services
Programs find ways to safely adapt to covid-19 See updated list of syringe programs, hours and locationsBy Elaine Louden, HRO Public Health Fellow Updated 5/20/20 Ohio’s syringe programs are starting to reopen and resume normal hours after closing or restricting...
Are overdose deaths increasing during COVID-19?
Some evidence points to increased overdose death during COVID-19 because people are using alone. That leaves nobody there to reverse an overdose with Narcan or call 911. Drugs may be more potent, too, because reduced demand may mean less cutting and dilution of drugs.
Harm Reduction Ohio distributes record amount of naloxone in March
HRO gave out 1,766 naloxone kits during the month of March. Ninety-percent of the kits were distributed through our online service, kindly supported by the Ohio Department of Health during the cvid-19 response.
HEALTH ALERT: Canton latest to close its syringe program (Updated)
At least 10 of the state’s 19 syringe programs have shut down. Others cutting back services sharply. Some programs hope to move online.
HRO fulfills 600+ online naloxone requests during first 13 days of covid-19
HRO’s online naloxone program, done in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Health, has been a success. More than 600 online orders have been placed, from 74 of Ohio’s 88 counties during the first 13 days of the program, a response to covid-19.
Salute a Harm Reduction Ohio Hero: Ashlee Schleter of Tiffin
We take a break from the pandemic to bring you good news about a good person: Ashlee Schleter. She is one of Ohio’s great layperson distributors of naloxone. This week, Narcan that she provided others resulted in two more overdose reversals. Thank you, Ashlee.
COVID-19 RESPONSE: State supplies Narcan kits to increase at-home dosing for methadone patients
After a bad start, Ohio takes action to prevent methadone patients from both coronavirus and overdose.
Toledo syringe service program closing, first shutdown in state caused by coronavirus threat
Toledo service closed today, opens Thursday, then closed indefinitely Other syringe program limiting contact, taking temperatures The Northwest Ohio Syringe Service (NOSS) program in Toledo was closed today (Wednesday) and will close for at least the rest of the month...
Tree Line Recovery Center in Findlay closes because of coronavirus financial troubles
First known drug treatment clinic closes in Ohio related to coronavirus.
Safer Drug Use Strategies During the COVID-19 Outbreak
Evidence-based advice for people who use drugs about staying safer during the coronavirus outbreak. From the Harm Reduction Coalition and Vital Strategies.
Narcan in One Click
Do you know someone who uses drugs (other than marijuana) and is at risk of overdose death. Click this link and place a confidential, free Narcan order.
Tell us what’s in happening drug markets, recovery and user well-being in Ohio
Your observations needed! Are drugs harder to get or more expensive? Is treatment less available? Are you using telemedicine? Comments go directly to Harm Reduction Ohio President Dennis Cauchon and will be kept confidential.
Ohio makes getting methadone easier as part of coronavirus response; Suboxone rules unchanged
State and federal regulators have agreed to rule changes that will make life easier (and safer) for methadone patients.The most important change: Many methadone patients can get enough take-home medicine to last two weeks, if their doctor approves.
Harm Reduction Ohio to provide online Narcan access 24/7 during coronavirus shutdowns
Harm Reduction Ohio’s online program will fill in for cancelled naloxone distribution events and programs closed to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Gov. DeWine’s administration promises to provide sufficient naloxone to satisfy the state’s need for Narcan.
Preliminary 2019 Ohio Overdose Death Rates, Ranked by County
See which counties have the highest overdose death rates in Ohio. Scioto County is suffering heartbreaking levels of overdose deaths.
SPECIAL REPORT: Race and Overdose in Ohio
For decades, white overdose death rates have been higher than those for blacks. That changed in 2019. Black Ohioans are dying at a faster rate and fentanyl-laced cocaine is the primary problem.
“Tell me what’s in the drug supply, and I’ll tell you how many people will die from overdoses.”
Drug checking is the only way to quickly and dramatically reduce overdose deaths in Ohio. The history of carfentanil reveals why.
SPECIAL REPORT: Ohio overdose deaths on rise again, exceed 4,000 in 2019
Overdose death decline of 2018 does not last. Deadly carfentanil returns to Ohio. Hardest it metro areas: Akron-Canton, Columbus, Portsmouth.
Harm Reduction Ohio launches new statewide service for Ohio residents to order naloxone online
Free naloxone for people at risk of overdose and those who love them Narcan and intramuscular naloxone available Order online, delivery by mail Harm Reduction Ohio (HRO) today launched a no-cost way for Ohioans to order naloxone online and receive it confidentially by...
Has overdose death left an empty chair at your holiday table?
Holidays can be hard for those who’ve lost a loved one to overdose. Here’s help on how to cope.
VIDEO: Sam Snodgrass, PhD, “The Struggle for Survival: Opioids, Addiction, and the Brain”
Watch the keynote talk at Harm Reduction Ohio’s annual conference.
This hourlong video presents Sam Snodgrass’s keynote talk at Harm Reduction Ohio’s annual conference in April. It deserves your time and attention.
Sam holds a doctorate in biopsychology and had a research fellowship from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. He lost it all from an addiction to opioids. Several parents who lost a child to overdose told us they did not fully understand what happed and what their child was going through until they heard’s Sam’s talk at the Harm Reduction Coalition’s conference in New Orleans or elsewhere.
Sam Snodgrass, PhD
Sam’s talk his three major parts, each one fascinating in its own right:
- His personal journey from successful academic at medical school to a homeless opioid addict who’d lost everything.
- The neuroscience behind opioids and addiction.
- Why harm reduction is crucial to reducing overdose deaths and other destructive consequences of current drug policies.
Mary
Special thanks to Mary Stafford, a mother who lost a son to overdose and did not understand what happened until hearing Sam’s talk. She hired a professional video crew to record Sam’s talk at HRO’s conference. The recording was made for Broken No More, a family organization that hopes “more enlightened drug policies may help stem the tide of addiction and overdose.”
A big thanks to Sam, Mary and Laura Cash, a board member of both Harm Reduction Ohio and Broken No More.