Objective:  Reduce overdose deaths in Ross County, OH.

What is Drug Overdose?: A drug overdose is defined as 

Graph:  The line graph shows the unintentional drug overdose deaths per year since 2009.  Increase in Ross County unintentional overdose deaths have continued to increase over the years.  Most recently in 2020, Ross County experienced the worst year on record for uninentional overdose deaths.  Toxicology reports identify that fentanyl has been detected in over 66% of overdose deaths since 2016 and in 82% of overdose deaths in 2020 alone.  

Data Source:  Ross County Health District Vital Statistics Office, Ross County Coroner.  Data updated annually. 

Ross County Coroner's Office, Ross County Health District, Ross County Overdose Fatality Review Board.

Ross County supports local comprehensive overdose prevention efforts through a collaborative approach to addressing emerging drug threats in our community:

• Community Coalitions led by the Hope Partnership Project and the Partners for a Healthier Ross County.
• Local Strategic Plans identified in our local Community Health Improvement Plan, the Hope Partnership Project, and several grant program initiatives related to substance use disorder and overdose prevention.  
• Overdose Fatality Review Board led by the Ross County Health District that to better understand the factors that contribute to overdose fatalities and substance use disorder. 
• Community/Clinical Linkages to connect individuals who experience substance use disorder to peer recovery supporters, social workers, treatment and recovery service providers, and other medical providers in the community to help link individuals to treatment and a pathway for recovery.  
• Post Overdose Response Team (PORT) which is led by local law enforcement aimed at connecting individuals and families to support, treatment, and recovery services in Ross County when an individual experiences an overdoses or is at risk of overdose.  
• Cross Sector Data Collection to drive community response to emerging drug threats in Ross County.  
• Comprehensive and Sustainable Systems: Through grant programs held by Adena Health System, Paint Valley ADAMH Board, Ross County Community Action, Ross County Health District, and other local agencies, Ross County strives to secure necessary funding for the planning, sustainability, and community response to help reduce risk of drug overdoses and substance use disorder in our communities.