The Franklin County Coroner’s Office is releasing preliminary overdose death statistics in Franklin County, for the first eight months of 2018.
From January 1 to August 31, 2018 the Franklin County Coroner’s Office saw 345 people die of overdoses. This is the exact number seen within the same time period for 2017.
Opiate-related deaths accounted for 87% of overdose deaths during the first 8 months of 2018. Fueling this was fentanyl which accounted for 76% 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 1.7%, whereas, in the same period for 2017 they accounted for 18.5%. Heroin-related deaths also decreased to 11% from 15.9% in 2017.
Cocaine, methamphetamine and benzodiazepine-related overdose deaths increased in 2018 compared to 2017.
- Cocaine: 39% vs 35%
- Meth: 10% vs 4.9%
- Benzos: 6% vs 4%
For the first 8 months of 2018, 76% of overdose deaths were Caucasian, 21% African American and 3% Hispanic. In the same period for 2017, 77% were Caucasian, 22% African American and 1% Hispanic.
The number of males dying of overdoses continues to be higher than that of females.
- Male vs female, 2018: 71.3% vs 28.7%
- Male vs female, 2017: 69% vs 31%
The top five zip codes with the highest number of overdose deaths for the first 8 months of 2018 were 43207, 43204, 43223, 43213, and 43123.
Please see attached charts. In addition, all information will be on our website within the next two weeks.