recently announced that
Cuyahoga County suffered at
least 42 confirmed fatal over-
doses in the month of Novem-
ber due to heroin, fentanyl or a
combination of the two. Twenty
individuals were Cleveland
residents and 22 were from the
suburbs. However, more than
two dozen cases from Novem-
ber are pending further toxicol-
ogy testing, which may cause
the total to increase. In the first
week of December, there were
at least 18 fatalities.
carfentanil, a large animal seda-
tive, 100 times more deadly than
fentanyl and 2500 times more
deadly than heroin. There have
doses to date due to carfentanil.
Office will issue a final summary
for the year," said Dr. Gilson. "It
has been consistently clear that
2016 has been an unprecedent-
ed year for drug-related deaths
in our county."
double from the 228 in 2015.
For additional information
and to view the com-
plete report, please visit:
http://medicalexaminer.
cuyahogacounty.us/
pdf_medicalexaminer/
en-US/121216-Hero-
in-Fentanyl-Related-
deaths-CC.df.
ty Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas
P. Gilson and Cuyahoga County
Sheriff Clifford Pinkney encour-
age residents to safely dispose
of their unwanted and unused
prescription drugs. Residents can
promote awareness and partici-
pate in five simple steps:
medicine and make sure no one
has tampered with them.
out of the reach of children and
visitors to your household.
one of the Drug Drop Boxes locat-
ed throughout Cuyahoga County.
There is a Drop Box in the the
Beachwood Police Department
lobby, 2700 Richmond Road,
Monday through Friday between
8 am and 4:30 pm.
you. According to the National
Institute on Drug Abuse, 54.2%
of prescription drug users obtain
them for free (with or without
permission) from friends and
relatives.
of prescription drug abuse.
please visit http://sheriff.
cuyahogacounty.us/en-us/Rx-
DrugDropBoxProgram.aspx.