Butler County accidental overdose deaths
2009: Coroner’s death investigations, 329, 80 accidental overdoses
2010: Coroner’s death investigations, 266, 61 accidental overdoses
2011: Coroner’s death investigations, 343, 94 accidental overdoses
2012: Coroner’s death investigation, 369, 101 accidental overdoses
2013through July 12: Coroner’s death investigations, 172, 54 accidental overdoses
Source: Butler County Coroner’s Office
Accidental overdose deaths, fueled by prescription pill abuse and heroin, have skyrocketed in Butler County in the past few years, accounting for nearly a third of all death investigations, according to the Butler County Coroner’s Office.
“It happens to superstars and your next door neighbor,” said Butler County Coroner Dr. Lisa Mannix.
Last week, Cory Monteith, star of television’s “Glee,” was found dead at the age of 31 in a Canadian hotel. His death was ruled an accidental overdose of heroin and alcohol. Monteith had battled addiction since his teen years and entered rehab in April for prescription pill addiction, according to news reports.
In two weeks last month, Hamilton emergency medical workers responded to 18 suspected heroin overdoses, five in just one day. That percentage is more than triple the number of overdose calls in the city from last June, according to Jennifer Mason, Hamilton Fire Department EMS coordinator.
Middletown has also seen the increase.
“Our overdose runs appear to be way up,” said Middletown Fire Capt. David Adams. He said they have several runs weekly and have had multiple overdoses in one day.
In 2012, the coroner’s office investigated 369 deaths and 101 of those were accidental drug overdoses. In 2011, 94 of the 343 deaths investigated were attributed to accidental drug overdose; in 2010, of 266 death investigations 61 were accidental drug overdoses; and in 2009, accidental drug overdose was ruled as the cause of death in 80 of the 329 cases.
As of July 12, 172 deaths have been investigated by the coroner’s office and 54 of those have been ruled accidental drug overdoses. Testing now allows the coroner’s office to determine if heroin is the the cause of the overdose, which has been difficult in the past because of its opiate base. Heroin is the drug cited or one of the drugs cited in 24 of the 54 overdose deaths this so far this year.
While heroin accounts for a large portion of overdoses, Mannix said it is not the only culprit.
“We see people with several therapeutic levels of drugs in their system, but because of other medical conditions, they don’t tolerate the same level as others,” Mannix said. She noted some deaths are accidental overdoses because people are seeking pain control but also have heart conditions or respiratory problems.
Whatever the drug, overdose deaths cause a strain on police departments, who typically investigate all unspecified deaths as homicides until the manner and cause of death is known.
“They are clearly manpower intensive,” said Hamilton Police Chief Scott Scrimizzi. He noted detectives are called to the scene, evidence is collected and police have to follow the case until a ruling comes from the coroner’s office.
Scrimizzi said there is “no silver bullet” to stop illicit drug use. All his department can do is continue to work on arresting dealers.
“It slows it down for a while, but there is always someone stepping up to take their place,” the chief said.
But it is not just illegal drugs causing overdoses. Scrimizzi said abuse of prescription medication has also increased.
“You can’t believe the amount of pills some people have in their homes,” he said. “Whatever problem they have, doctors have a pill for it.”s
Scott Gehring, CEO of Sojourner Recovery Services in Hamilton, said his agency is currently treating 120 people, many addicted to heroin, but the majority are being helped for prescription addiction.
“And the fact of the matter is, they are our brothers, our mothers, our nieces and our children,” Gehring said, adding the problem is spread throughout the county, not just in Middletown and Hamilton.
Jennifer, a 37-year-old mother who is a recovering heroin addict, warns against its use.
“Don’t do it,” she said.
Jennifer, who asked that her last name not be printed, has lost friends to overdoses — something that she nearly experienced once.
“You never know what kind of dope you are getting, but you just don’t care, you need it that bad,” she said. “That’s how it (an overdose) happens. That and mixing it with other stuff. But I don’t know of anyone who wanted to overdose. They are just looking to keep the high.”
After first shooting heroin four years ago, Jennifer said she lost most of what she cared about — her job and her family.
“I am an addict period — alcohol, pills, crack cocaine,” Jennifer said. “But with heroin, I lost everything.”
Yvonne Howard Ewers’ son Donnie Howard, of Middletown, was a licenced barber, the father of two and, secretly, a heroin user.
It was an addiction he managed to keep a secret until his death.
On March 21, Ewers’ phone rang in Florida with the devastating news that her 38-year-old son had died from a heroin overdose.
“I am still floored and in disbelief,” Ewers said. “I want people in Middletown to know this is affecting every race, every socioeconomic group … My son wasn’t a street thug. He wasn’t robbing and stealing to buy drugs. And he hid it well.”
She has custody of her two grandchildren, 17 and 14, who are also struggling with the loss of their father. Ewers said she is going through therapy to help cope with the loss of her son.
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