Over the last 10 years, the City of Lakewood has reported far more fatal fentanyl overdoses than any other Cleveland suburb, according to medical examiner data.
Lakewood reported 15 fentanyl deaths by residence between the years 2006 and 2015. Per 1,000 residents, Lakewood’s overdose rate is more than two-and-a-half times greater than Cuyahoga County’s five other largest cities.
Fire Chief Scott Gilman told newsnet5.com that his department received calls for 34 heroin or fentanyl related overdoses so far this year. The numbers put Lakewood on track to soon beat the 58 overdoses for all of 2015.
“It’s an epidemic problem we have now,” Gilman told newsnet5.com. “It takes a lot of resources to respond to it.”
Gilman said fentanyl is much more potent than heroin and can require up to four times as much of the reversal drug naloxone to help revive overdose victims.
He said his crews are responding to all parts of the city at all times of the day to treat victims.
In trying to pinpoint an exact source, he said the patients are often not very helpful.
“They don’t want to tell you where they got it,” he said. “I don’t know if they’re afraid of the dealers or afraid of the police.”
Parma had the second highest number of fentanyl fatalities, 10 between then years 2006 and 2015, although it’s population is about 30,000 residents greater than Lakewood’s.
