(Columbus, OH) Despite statewide efforts, Ohio's opioid epidemic is getting worse.
An average of 11 people died each day of drug overdoses last year in Ohio-- marking another milestone in the opioid epidemic statewide.
The state health department reports more than 4,000 people died in 2016 from a drug overdose, driven in large part by the emergence of stronger drugs like the synthetic painkiller fentanyl. That's a one-third increase over the previous year.
Heroin-related deaths are leveling off, and deaths from prescription painkillers fell for the fifth straight year. But more than half the overdose deaths last year involved fentanyl and the opioid epidemic shows little signs of slowing.