COLUMBUS, Ohio (WTVN)--The Franklin County Coroner says overdose deaths for the first half of 2020 far outpaced the rate of deaths for the same time frame in 2019.
On Wednesday, Dr. Anahi Ortiz's office released the information, with 437 people in the county dying of an overdose from January 1st to June 30th. That's up 73% over the same time frame the previous year.
Dr. Ortiz warns that if that rate continues for the remainder of 2020, the county could see over 900 overdose deaths for the entire year.
She adds that fentanyl accounts for 85% of the deaths for the first half of 2020, and the potent drug is being cut into other recreational drugs, like cocaine and methamphetamine.
Dr. Ortiz suggests that you use test strips to determine if there is fentanyl in a particular drug, and have Narcan available if you know someone who uses drugs.