Thomas P. Gilson, M.D.

11001 Cedar Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106

A National Association of Medical Examiners (N.A.M.E.) accredited office

CUYAHOGA COUNTY

MEDICAL EXAMINERS OFFICE

Heroin & Fentanyl Related

Deaths in Cuyahoga
County
JANUARY 11, 2016

650

Cuyahoga County Overdose Deaths 2006-2015

Most Common Drugs

600
550
500

450
400

370

350

340

300

250

250

100
50

267

310

226

200
150

269

251

301

127
81
49
23

Heroin

198

194

184

161
114
87

11 40

0
2006 - 250
cases

353

2007 - 226
cases

Cocaine

Source: Cuyahoga County Medical

Examiners Office revised 1-4-17

117

107

103

87
64
9
2008 - 251
cases

64

91
91
13

7
2009 - 269
cases

Fentanyl

103

2010 - 267
cases

113
107
98
8
2011 - 301
cases

111

124

116

87

101

92

85
10
2012 - 310
cases

115
80

37
5
2013 -340
cases

All Opioids (Inc. Oxycodone & but not Fentanyl)

2014- 353
cases

2015 - 370
cases

TOTAL OD DEATHS

800

Cuyahoga County Overdose Deaths 2006-2016*

Most Common Drugs (*projected based on ruled cases as of December 31)

750
700
650

608

600
550
500
450
400

394
370

350

340
300
250

301

250

251

269

310

299

267

226

200

353

194

225

198

184

124

115

161
150
100
50
0

127

114

81
49
23

87

2006 - 250
cases

Heroin

64
7

2008 - 251
cases

2009 - 269
cases

Cocaine

Source: Cuyahoga County Medical

Examiners Office revised 1-11-17

103

87
64
9

11 40
2007 - 226
cases

117

107

Fentanyl

103
91 91
13
2010 - 267
cases

107113
98
8
2011 - 301
cases

111
85
10
2012 - 310
cases

116
101
5
2013 -340
cases

92
80

87

89

37
2014- 353
cases

All Opioids (Inc. Oxycodone & but not Fentanyl)

2015 - 370
cases

2016*- 608
cases

TOTAL OD DEATHS

CURRENT PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS

At least 17 fatalities since January 1, 2017
Fatal Cases due to heroin/fentanyl in Decemberat least 44 (3 cases pending additional testing)
Carfentanil: 23 CONFIRMED CASES TO DATE in 2016
21 - City of Cleveland Residents
23 - Suburban Residents- Berea, Broadview Hts., Brook Park, East Cleveland (2), Lakewood (4),
Lyndhurst, Oakwood, Parma (2), Westlake with (4) Out of County Chardon, Painesville (2),
Ravenna and (4) Out of State Beaver Falls, PA; Stem, NC; Silverwood, MI; Sterling Hts., MI and (1)
UNKNOWN
VICTIMS
Victims ages range from 20 70
32 Male victims; 12 Female victims
7 African American victims; 35 Caucasian victims (1 hispanic)
EXPONENTIAL RATE OF INCREASE
In 2015, one person died every day in Cuyahoga County from a drug overdose.
In 2016, that will nearly double, with 85% of them due to heroin/fentanyl or some combination. At
least 517 victims have died in 2016, more than double the 228 from 2015.

Source: Cuyahoga County Medical

Examiners Office revised 1-11-17

CCMEO 2016 Fentanyl & Heroin Related Deaths, by Month

(NOTE: revised monthly counts due to carfentanil)
30
26
25
25

23

23

23

22
21
20

18
17

1717

17

18

18

17

16
15
14

15

14

14

14

12
11

11

11

11
10

10

9
8
7

7 7

JAN- 30
total

FEB- 27
total

MAR- 50 APR- 33 MAY- 46 JUNE- 31 JULY- 48 AUG- 56

total
total
total
total
total
total
Heroin

Source: Cuyahoga County Medical

Examiners Office revised 1-11-17

Fentanyl

SEP- 57
total

OCT- 51 NOV- 44 DEC- 44

total
total
total

Combined

Cuyahoga County Heroin Related Overdose Deaths 2007-2016*

Projected deaths with DAWN Saves and Fentanyl as overdose Deaths

1100

(* 2016 projected based on preliminary data thru December 31)

1000
900
800
700
600
517
500
400

400
315

299

300
200
100

161
40

64

64

91

194

197

229

198

223

107

Source: Cuyahoga County Medical

Examiners Office revised 1-11-17

DAWN includes all documented naloxone saves

through DAWN including police reversals. Does not
include EMS administration (nearly 1,000 in 2015).

184

228

1073

Cuyahoga County Fentanyl Deaths 2006-2016

3

100%

2.25
3.5

90%

119

13.67
80%
100

70%

60%
100
50%

40%

100

105

30%
100
20%

10%

100

0%
Months
2006-Sept. 2014

Oct. 2014-Nov.21, 2015

Source: Cuyahoga County Medical

Examiners Office revised 1-11-17

Deaths
Nov. 21, 2015 - Apr. 7, 2016

Apr. 8 - July 20, 2016

July 21 - Sept 30

Oct. 1 - Dec 31