51 overdoses, 3 deaths illustrate growing heroin crisis

• Second in a Series
• "Overdosed: Frontline Stories" is an in-depth report from the perspectives of those on the front lines of the local battle against the heroin crisis.
• Coming Up: Pain doctor requires patients to take random drug tests

One week in August produced 51 suspected drug overdoses and three deaths in Richland County, providing more fresh evidence the local heroin crisis appears to be rapidly escalating.

The almost daily surge in overdoses impacts people well beyond addicts and their families, taking a growing toll on workers on the front line of helping people.

Dr. Joseph Bocka, an emergency room physician at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital, said it's not uncommon for people drop off overdose victims and leave, to find patients with a needle sticking out of their arm or to treat same person multiple times. Some are more concerned about losing their high than dying.

"When we see people that are overdosing or just completely abusing their bodies, especially if they keep doing it over and over again, it gets very frustrating,” he said.

To determine the scope of the problem in Richland County, the News Journal staff tracked overdoses for a one-week period, beginning Sunday, Aug. 7. The goal was to find a typical week, which based on preliminary reporting was expected to yield three to four overdose cases a day.

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An atypical week?

On the evening of  Aug. 10, Mansfield police and rescue squads dealt with nine overdose calls within 40 minutes, all in the near downtown area. The Wednesday total in the county was 15 calls, which was blamed on a bad batch of heroin.

On Friday, Aug. 12, nine overdoses were reported, with two being fatal.

While the opioid antidote naloxone is highly successful in reviving overdosing heroin users, local law enforcement officials say more heroin is being mixed with far more potent synthetic opioids, against which naloxone is far less effective, increasing the likelihood of deaths.

"You can overdose on heroin, but it's the things that are being mixed with heroin that's causing the deaths," city police Assistant Chief Keith Porch said, noting fentanyl is 50 times more powerful than straight heroin.

Carfentanil, which recently surfaced in the Akron-Canton area, also worries Porch. Often used as a sedative for large animals such as elephants, carfentanil is the most potent opioid used commercially.

“It’s 2,500 times stronger than heroin,” Porch said.

The 51 overdoses were scattered across Richland County, although a majority were in Mansfield. The overwhelming majority of overdose victims were white.

In all, 32 men and 16 women overdosed. Three reports were not available.

In seven cases, there were multiple overdose victims at the same scene. One victim overdosed twice in less than four hours.

The year-to-date statistics tell a stark tale. Mansfield already has seen 100 more overdoses than it did in all of 2015. Of the 248 overdoses in the city through Aug. 18, 18 have been fatal.

Compare that to last year, when there were 12 fatal overdoses for the year in Mansfield.

County numbers were not available, according to the sheriff's office.

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Stretching of resources

Getting a handle on the exact financial costs the overdose epidemic is having on local safety forces is difficult because most are incidental and built into operating budgets.

Through July 31, Mansfield firefighters had used nearly $7,500 worth of naloxone. In 2015, the total for the year was just under $7,000.

"We purchase through Hursh Drug," city fire Chief Steve Strickling said.

Dealing with a larger number of overdoses stretches department resources.

"If there's any other regular emergencies, they go into the queue for the next available squad," Strickling said.

On the Wednesday with 14 overdose calls in the city, Washington and Madison township firefighters helped cover calls in Mansfield.

Mansfield paramedic Brad Burwell estimates that overdoses make up 10 percent of the department's medical calls.

Ontario doesn't see as many overdoses as Mansfield, but they are still taking a toll financially. The effects of the drug problem show up in costs such as equipment replacement.

"We've had three defibrillators go down (from reviving overdose victims)," police Chief Rodney Smith said. "They're about $2,000 a pop. I'm by no means complaining. It has paid off in saving some lives over the years."

Coroner's investigator Bob Ball said autopsies related to overdoses cost the county an extra $50,000 in 2015.

The emotional costs

It is even more difficult to gauge the emotional toll of dealing with people who often are on the cusp of death.

Many first responders are reluctant to discuss their personal feelings. But city assistant fire Chief Mark Sieving said the overdose surge is taking a toll.

While paramedics have a high success rate treating heroin overdoses, they know it’s likely to be only a temporary fix, and many of the abusers will overdose again.

“It takes that whole sense of a good outcome away a little bit,” Sieving said.

“I’ve noticed it affecting the personnel’s compassion. You want to be a passionate paramedic. You don’t want to be paralyzed by your compassion, but you do this job because you want to help people,” he said.

Longtime probation officer Pam Myers said she thinks overdoses might be on the increase because of the success of naloxone in reviving overdose victims.

"Or else they don't care," she said of some who take chances.

Some suggest letting those who overdose die, thereby saving money and leaving emergency medical personnel available to handle other calls. But others say that attitude devalues life.

Buffi Williams, a licensed social worker, said it's not uncommon for addicts to want to reuse.

Getting clean is not easy, but she has seen clients overcome their addictions and lead successful lives.

"I always tell people it's going to feel like you're going through the darkest point in your life," Williams said.

Counselors, and others devoted to helping drug abusers, go through some dark days of their own.

Jill Waite is a professional clinical supervisor at Healing Hearts Counseling Center.

"I would lie to you if I didn't tell you there are times when we become completely sad," she said.

Obviously, drug overdoses affect more than those who OD. What has happened so far in 2016 proves there are no easy answers.

Mansfield police Sgt. Jason Bammann says he believes those on the front lines must work together.

"Otherwise, I don't see an end to it," he said.

mcaudill@gannett.com

419-521-7219

Twitter: @MNJCaudill