Ohio is launching a targeted deployment of naloxone, sending 60,000 doses of the antidote for an opioid overdose to 23 counties. The idea is to get ahead of a usual summertime rise in overdoses. Yet one of its partners in distributing the naloxone questions the equity of the plan, calling it racially biased.
Harm Reduction Ohio says the state’s plan excludes some areas that have high overdose death rates for Black Ohioans, including parts of Cincinnati and Columbus. It also charges the plan gives an insufficient amount of the drug to rural areas.
The heart of the problem: The two sides use different ways to measure the impact of overdoses.
Ohio s plan to distribute an anti-OD drug triggers questions, claims of racial bias Terry DeMio, Cincinnati Enquirer
Ohio is launching a targeted deployment of naloxone, sending 60,000 doses of the antidote for an opioid overdose to 23 counties. The idea is to get ahead of a usual summertime rise in overdoses. Yet one of its partners in distributing the naloxone questions the equity of the plan, calling it racially biased.
Harm Reduction Ohio says the state’s plan excludes some areas that have high overdose death rates for Black Ohioans, including parts of Cincinnati and Columbus. It also charges the plan gives an insufficient amount of the drug to rural areas.
Drug overdoses killed more Ohioans in 2020 than in at least the previous 14 years, a grim milestone likely made possible by the pandemic.
At least 5,001 Ohioans died of overdoses last year, according to a Dispatch analysis of mortality data from the Ohio Department of Health as of Tuesday. The closest overdose deaths have come to jumping 5,000 was in 2017 when 4,854 were recorded.
About 797 people who lost their lives to a drug overdose in 2020 were Franklin County residents, state data shows. The total number of overdose deaths in 2020 is likely to increase since county coroners have six months to investigate, meaning 2020 overdose deaths could climb further.
State sending 60,000 doses of opioid overdose drug to 23 counties. Here’s why Cuyahoga County is getting among the most.
Updated May 07, 1:45 PM;
Posted May 07, 1:45 PM
A single 4 mg dose of naloxone nasal spray (Narcan) can help reverse the affects of opioids and overdoses. Ohio has purchased 60,000 doses for $2.6 million to distribute in 23 counties.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio officials announced this week that about 60,000 doses of naloxone, a medicine that reverses opioid overdoses, are being sent to ZIP codes in 23 counties demonstrating the highest need.
The state’s naloxone blitz aims to ensure communities have more of the medicine for the spring and summer.
Great coverage of the success of The Mother Teresa of Pot Prisoners
In years past, I have tended to dislike the uptick in marijuana media coverage around 4/20 because a range of serious issues, and especially serious criminal justice issues, often seemed not to get the serious coverage that they deserved. But with marijuana reform continuing to pick up momentum, I think the 4/20 media mania is getting a little better. And I will always be grateful for whatever leads to media coverage of my favorite advocate of criminal justice reform in the marijuana space. She is the focal point of this lengthy new Input piece with this great full title: How ‘The Mother Teresa of Pot Prisoners’ saved her brother from dying behind bars: Beth Curtis’ LifeforPot.com may look janky, but it’s been amazingly effective in getting nonviolent marijuana offenders out of prison. I recommend the piece in full, and here are snippets: