Franklin County District Attorney Matt Fogal has released the annual data from the overdose task force for 2022, revealing that there were 32 overdose deaths in the county last year. This marks an increase from the 29 reported deaths in both 2020 and 2021.
The overdose death rate for 2022 was 21 deaths per 100,000 population. The most recent death on file occurred on December 26th, 2022. The gender breakdown of overdose deaths in the county showed that males were predominantly affected, with 22 males overdosing in 2022 compared to 10 females. This is in contrast to the general population gender distribution in Franklin County, which is 51% female and 49% male.
Fentanyl continues to be a major factor in overdose deaths in Franklin County, with over 60% of all opiod deaths involving the powerful synthetic opioid. The county has also seen an increase in the number of naloxone administration events, with 291 events recorded from 2018 to December 2022. These events include all EMS events and events voluntarily reported by law enforcement.
In addition to these statistics, Franklin County law enforcement departments have collected a total of 8,201.5 lbs of drugs from 2016 through 2022. This highlights the ongoing battle against drug addiction and overdose in the county.
These numbers are a stark reminder of the devastating impact of drug addiction on our community and we must continue to work together to address this crisis and provide support and resources to those who need it.
The Franklin County overdose task force, which was created in response to the increasing number of overdose deaths in the county, continues to work towards reducing the number of deaths and improving access to treatment and support for those struggling with addiction.
