COLUMBUS (WCMH) — Police say 27 people were treated for opiate overdoses in central Ohio in the last 24 hours. Nine of those overdoses were in the Linden area.
Columbus Police Sgt. Rich Weiner said in a release that police and fire responded to several overdose calls throughout the day on the city’s north side. He said the overdosed individuals were “within a short distance of one another.”
Officials say 27 uses of nalxone were needed. They normally give our 8 doses on a given day. Two people were seen twice in the same day.
In one case, an 8 year old child called 911 to report their parent was overdosing. Several other cases involved people in accidents or were in car were they overdosed on the drug.
The corner says 10-percent of the people treated later died.
Police advise that there could be highly-potent, dangerous units of heroin circulating in the central Ohio area. Police ask all individuals in possession of heroin should destroy their units. Investigators are actively working to determine the origin of the product.
Because of the increase in overdoses, Columbus Public Health is urging residents to consider the following recommendations:
- Secure naloxone. It can save your life or the life of a loved one. Depending on the potency of the drug, you may need to utilize several doses.
- If you choose to use, please do not use alone. Have someone else present.
- When you use with someone else present, take turns so someone is conscious to help out if you OD
- When and if you choose to use, consider testing new heroin for potency first.
If you or a loved are experiencing a mental health or substance abuse related emergency call the Netcare Access Crisis Hotline: 614-276-CARE (2273). If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.Keep checking NBC4i.com for real-time updates on this story. To get alerts for breaking news, grab the free NBC4 News App for iPhone or Android. You can also sign up for email alerts.
