Barnesville, OH — In Belmont County, the number of overdose deaths has significantly decreased, dropping from 27 in 2023 to just 13 in 2024, according to a newly released report by Coroner Amanda Fisher. As Fisher begins her second term following a November re-election, her office’s compilation of local mortality statistics sheds light on key public health issues affecting the community.
The coroner emphasized that public awareness of these figures is crucial in addressing and understanding the broader social challenges such as drug use and mental health issues. Despite the decrease in overdose fatalities, suicides have reached a four-year high with 12 incidents recorded last year, marking a troublesome uptrend from eight in 2023.
Fisher attributes the reduction in overdose deaths partly to the increased availability of Narcan, an emergency treatment for opioid overdoses, and drug testing strips that detect substances like fentanyl. Her observations are echoed statewide, with similar trends being discussed among coroners across Ohio during their annual conferences.
In addition to overdose and suicide rates, the report highlighted a gradual decline in deaths resulting from motor vehicle accidents, with the numbers falling from seven in 2021 to only two in 2024. Deaths from fires remained minimal, maintaining consistent low figures across the surveyed years, while homicides numbered two in the last year.
Addressing mental health post-tragedy has been a specific focus for Fisher, who reported initiating collaborations between her office and local mental health agencies. Such partnerships aim to educate the community, especially teenagers, about the dangers of fentanyl and other drugs. Fisher’s efforts extend to aiding bereaved families who often endure considerable emotional distress without knowledge of available support resources or how to access them.
This challenge is compounded by persistent stigmas surrounding mental health, which Fisher believes deter individuals from seeking necessary care. Statistical data from the National Library of Medicine points to significant delays in individuals seeking and receiving mental health treatments, a concern exacerbated by the complexities of the healthcare system and lengthy waiting periods for treatment.
Furthermore, Fisher highlighted issues related to reporting deaths, noting that occurrences like hospice deaths at home or incidents where the deceased are taken to outside facilities, such as WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital, often go unrecorded in county statistics due to jurisdictional boundaries. This can skew local mortality data, presenting challenges to comprehensive statistical tracking.
Through all these findings and initiatives, Fisher hopes that increased education, transparency, and cooperation will bridge the gap not only between her office and the public but also pave the way for broader societal engagement with pressing public health challenges. The efforts in Belmont County reflect a larger narrative of communities grappling with the intersection of public health, mental wellness, and the impact of substance abuse across the nation.