Overdose deaths in increased by nearly 50% in 2020. Over the past three years, the rate has jumped by close to 84%.
The cited the problem as 鈥渢he epidemic within the pandemic.鈥�
Overdose fatalities in Franklin County have been climbing through the past three years. From 2017 to 2020, the county recorded an 83.9% increase in overdose deaths.
Male overdose deaths reached 71% of the total number of deaths in 2020. That is up from 68% in 2017.
Female deaths slightly declined in percentage during the same timeframe: from 32% to 29%.
The percentage of overdose deaths by African Americans also showed a troubling trend. The numbers climbed from 20% of Franklin County deaths in 2017 to 28% in 2020.
The percentage for Caucasians dying from overdoses in the county has declined from 77% in 2017 to 67% in 2020.
Fentanyl-related overdose deaths accounted for 87% of the total overdose deaths in 2020. That is higher than in the 3 previous years where fentanyl was found in approximately 74-83% of all overdose deaths.
Other overdose deaths were attributed to cocaine with 366 cases, with methamphetamines having the third-most at 122 deaths. Alcohol, and xylazine were also listed as overdose fatalities.
