The agency said the confirmed spike occurred within six days of each other “and mainly concentrated within the village of New Miami and the city of Hamilton” as two suspected fatal overdoses occurred in each area. Middletown and the Butler County portion of Sharonville also saw suspected fatal overdoses during the countywide spike.
The health report also sites that hospital emergency department data for suspected fatal drug overdose admissions at a Butler County facility were slightly higher during the spike period, “which provides further evidence of overdoses increasing” and warranted further examination to highlight significant findings and information.
“Data and coroner investigation notes also suggest a high proportion of individuals were suspected to have used stimulants at the time of their fatality,” according to Jordan Meyer, senior epidemiologist with the Butler County General Health District. “This is notable as Butler County has observed an increase in overdose fatalities involving these substances like methamphetamine and cocaine within the last calendar year.”
Meyer also said the data also indicates a potentially high likelihood the individuals thought they may have been using stimulants but did not know they could have been mixed with opioid substances, said Meyer. Until toxicology reports are finalized, he said it’s difficult to determine an exact reason or potential substance responsible for the spike.
All suspected fatal overdoses between March 10 and Sunday were white men. The age groups included three between 55 and 64 years old; one between 18 and 24; one between 35 and 44, and one between 45 and 54 years old.
Until last week, only twice this year — between Jan. 27-Feb. 2 and Feb. 24-March 2 — had there been as many as three suspected fatal drug overdoses, according to the county health district’s report.
According to the Butler County Coroner’s Office, even though there has been a recent spike in suspected fatal drug overdoses, the numbers have trended down since 2022, when there were 184 drug overdose deaths. Overdose deaths dropped to 130 in 2023 and further down to 88 in 2024. Through Tuesday, there have been 25 known and suspected drug overdose deaths, according to the office.
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