Drug s overdoses killed more Cuyahoga County residents last year than homicide, suicide, and traffic accidents combined, according to a report from the county medical examiner’s office.
In 2016, 666 people died from drug overdoses – both prescription and illegal - more than other causes of violent deaths, according to report from the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner.
More than two-thirds of overdoses involved fentanyl. But the increase was exponential: from 92 in 2015, to 399 last year.
The medical examiner is seeing a new type of victim. Fentanyl-related overdoses are increasing among African-Americans. Fifty-eight blacks were victims of the drug last year. So far this year, the total is 50. The medical examiner’s offices blames the hike on dealers who are mixing fentanyl with cocaine, which African American addicts are more likely to use.