The Franklin County Coroner’s Office is releasing its preliminary overdose death statistics for the full year 2018.
From January 1 to December 31, 2018 the Franklin County Coroner’s Office saw 522 people die of overdoses. This is approximately the same number of overdose deaths seen in 2017.
Opiate-related deaths accounted for almost 92% of overdose deaths for full year 2018. Fueling this was fentanyl which accounted for 79% of all overdose deaths. In the same period for 2017, opiates accounted for 87.8% and fentanyl accounted for 61% of overdose deaths.
Carfentanil-related overdose deaths decreased in 2018 to 1.1%, whereas, in the same period for 2017 they accounted for 18.5%. Heroin-related deaths also decreased to 12.2% from 15.9% in 2017.
Cocaine, methamphetamine and benzodiazepine-related overdose deaths increased in 2018 compared to 2017.
- Cocaine: 39.4% vs 35%
- Methamphetamines: 10.3% vs 4.9%
- Benzodiazepines: 6.7% vs 4%
Looking at race and ethnicity, 22% of those who died of overdose deaths were African American, an increase of 2% from 2017. Hispanics also saw an increase in overdose deaths from 1% in 2017 to 3% in 2018. The Caucasian population saw a decrease in overdose deaths from 78% in 2017 to 74% in 2018.
The number of males dying of overdoses continues to be higher than that of females with numbers unchanged from 2017, males 69%, and females 31%.
The top five zip codes with the highest number of overdose deaths for full year 2018 were 43207, 43204, 43223, 43206, and 43228.
Please see attached charts. In addition, all information will be on our website within the next few weeks.