Trends in Drug Overdose Mortality in Ohio During the First 7 Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This cross-sectional study uses data from the Ohio Department of Health to evaluate trends in drug overdose mortality in that state by type of drug and user age during the first 7 months of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Figure 1.. Weekly Overdose Deaths, January 1, 2018, to October 10, 2020, by Drug Type

Overdose deaths from medical examiners’ offices are shown for all Ohio counties. At point A (May 26 to June 1, 2019), there were 82 overdoses (59 fentanyl and analogues, 0 heroin, 9 other opioids, and 14 other drugs). At point B (March 15-21, 2020), there were 85 overdoses (62 fentanyl and analogues, 2 heroin, 6 other opioids, and 15 other drugs). At point C (April 26 to May 2, 2020), there were 137 overdoses (111 fentanyl and analogues, 2 heroin, 5 other opioids, and 19 other drugs). At point D (May 31 to June 6, 2020), there were 145 overdoses (118 fentanyl and analogues, 2 heroin, 7 other opioids, and 18 other drugs). At point E (August 16-22, 2020) there were 80 overdoses (60 fentanyl and analogues, 1 heroin, 5 other opioids, and 9 other drugs). At point F (October 4-11, 2020), there were 105 overdoses (90 fentanyl and analogues, 1 heroin, 5 other opioids, and 9 other drugs). The “other opioids” category included nonfentanyl, nonheroin opioids.

Figure 2.. Overdose Deaths in Each 4-Week Period by Age, Normalized by 2018-2019 Average, January 1, 2018, to October 10, 2020

Overdose deaths from medical examiners’ offices are shown for all Ohio counties. Overdose death counts are aggregated into 4-week periods for 4 age groups. Levels in each 4-week period are divided by the overall mean number of overdoses in the relevant age group for 2018 through 2019.