(The Center Square) – For the second consecutive year, overdose deaths in Ohio have dropped and are better than the national average.
The Ohio Department of Health’s annual Unintentional Drug Overdose Report showed a 9% decline in verified overdose deaths across the state. In 2023, there were 4,452 unintentional drug overdose deaths, down from 4,914 in 2022.
State officials say the decrease shows the progress of several state programs and resources offered over the past several years.
“When I became governor in 2019, I made fighting drug addiction and preventing overdose deaths one of my administration’s top priorities,” Gov. Mike DeWine said. “This new data shows that Ohio is on the right track, and the numbers have been getting more encouraging each of the past few years. But we also recognize that our work is far from complete – that every overdose death remains a tragedy. These results further sharpen our resolve to continue our fight to save more lives.”
The report showed the state has done better than the national overdose death trends for the past two years. The state’s 9% decrease topped the national 2% decrease in 2023.
DeWine also announced the state will funnel $100 million in federal taxpayer dollars to communities around the state to continue to fight opioid use and prevent overdose deaths.
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It’s the fourth round of State Opioid and Stimulant Response grant funds in Ohio. The money comes from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and goes to local organizations that offer prevention, harm reduction, treatment and long-term recovery services.
“This funding is vitally important to supporting our ongoing work to prevent and reduce overdose deaths in our state,” Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Director LeeAnne Cornyn said. “While the data is trending in the right direction, we’re not out of the woods yet. Fentanyl remains a serious threat to our communities, and that’s why we are committed to thoughtfully investing these resources in projects that make a real difference, and ultimately save lives.”