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New Carlisle Fire Division Chief Steve Trusty watches as Clark County Sheriff's Deputy Rachael Allender shows how Narcan is administered to a patient.

In the past several weeks Clark County has seen a spike in overdose calls to law enforcement and medics. At one point all of the available first responders in Springfield were on overdose calls leaving emergency medical services and the local hospital stretched to unprecedented limits.

The Enon Eagle and New Carlisle News began work on this article a few weeks ago not expecting to see a recent call in Mad River Township confirm our investigation into why this spike has occurred.

According to information available from the Ohio Department of Health, in 2015 Fentanyl related drug overdose deaths between 2012 and 2015 went from just 75 to 1, 155. These are listed as “unintentional drug poisonings”. The 2015 report is the latest information available at this time.

The report shows that the vast majority of deaths are the result of “illegally produced and trafficked fentanyl.” It should be noted that the unintentional deaths due to prescription opioid deaths decreased for four years in a row. This is considered to be due to efforts to stop the availability of prescription pills using increased law enforcement working with medical professionals.

In March of last year the Center for Disease Control issued a release that showed based on law enforcement drug seizures, the State of Ohio has seen more reports of fentanyl being part of the drugs taken from individuals. This opiate is 30 – 50 times stronger than heroin and unsuspecting users are still using what they believe to be heroin at the same rate leading to overdose and death.

In their report the CDC noted that the fentanyl deaths were white males with some college or less. They also had a history of substance abuse or mental health issues. Other indications were that they were recently released from a jail, hospital or treatment facility. They also had a history of high-dose opioid prescription use.

The cost of overdose calls to law enforcement and emergency services is on the rise as well. The recent call in Mad River Township for two unresponsive adults brought a unit from Enon and at least five units from the Clark County Sheriff to the scene. The minimum time on the scene was an hour, but with Children’s Services involved and the time to complete the report, appear in court and other requirements by law enforcement the hours tick by fairly quickly.

In the case of the emergency support units, we spoke with New Carlisle Fire Chief Steve Trusty. For an overdose call the department is sending out a medic unit and the battalion chief. They also contact Elizabeth Township to send over their medic unit to cover any additional calls. If both medics are out of the station, the department must rely on mutual aide to come in from Pike Township if another medical run comes in to dispatch.

For an overdose, Trusty reported that the average time for his units is between three and four hours. Their crews take the patients to Grandview in Dayton for treatment unless they refuse. Crews cannot make a patient go to the hospital and there have been time when an overdose call turns into a repeat as users will be stabilized at the scene and go on to use again in the same day.

The crews must clean the vehicles, refill supplies and complete reports on the calls. The department is averaging three to five calls for an overdose per month. In January they did have one patient found dead upon arrival.

When medic units are called to the scene of a possible overdose, they cannot enter the scene until law enforcement arrives.

Enon / Mad River Township Fire and EMS Chief Tracy Young was able to provide additional information related to his department. His average response time is closer to two hours minimum. The cost is estimated at $300 per overdose which includes salaries. Both departments reported that a typical response would consist of four personnel. In the Enon area, the department is seeing an increase in calls to now be around five to seven per month.

For Young’s department, the protocol is to bill for Advanced Life Support of $950. In some cases they do receive partial payment from an insurance company, but when no insurance is available, the taxpayers are picking up the entire cost.

When law enforcement and medics respond to a scene of an overdose, the use of Narcan has become protocol. The difference is that with the increase in fentanyl laced heroin or straight fentanyl the number of doses has increased from one to two doses. In the case in Mad River Township, it took four doses for one female and six doses for the male. Because law enforcement units have a limited number in their cruiser, the backup units are needed.

Ohio has initiatives to combat drug overdoses and has put an additional $500,000 per year towards the purchase of the Narcan antidote.

In 2016 the small Village of Enon had three overdose calls last year. In a recent report to council, Chief Lew Wilcox reported that the traffic stops coming into the area from I-675 and I-70 are proving to be more than routine stops. Both Mayor Howard and the Chief have expressed concerns for the increase in drug related traffic stops and the safety of the officers.

The Enon Police Department does not stock Narcan in their units based on cost. Chief Wilcox estimated the cost is between $75 and $135 for his department depending upon the source.

Law enforcement had their hands tied regarding criminal prosecution. In September of last year Ohio passed a law that prohibits charging friends or family members who call 911 to report an overdose. This also includes the individual who is overdosing. Governor John Kasich called this the “Good Samaritan law”. This bill, which received support from both sides of the aisle, was sponsored by Ohio Representatives Robert Sprague from Findlay and Denise Driehaus from Cincinnati. In comments regarding the law, Sprague stated that the dealers were the “real bad guys”.

There is a limit to how many times immunity is granted. It only protects a person twice. If an individual is granted immunity, they must undergo a drug screening within a month. Law enforcement and social workers may elect to encourage individuals to seek treatment once they are revived.

In cases where children are in the home, additional hours are spent by Children’s Services to find foster care for the underage children. In 2015 we reported that often the social service agencies depend on law enforcement to determine when to call for assistance. Users often leave their children home alone while they make their drug connection. If neighbors contact law enforcement for a well child check at the home, a situation where the young child is found in the street can be avoided. Agencies in Ohio are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days per year for those in need. There are a number of mandated reporters in a child’s life, including teachers. If an active safety threat is suspected, they are required by law to contact law enforcement of children’s services to make a report.

The cost of overdoses is increasing on local agencies with the rise of fentanyl use. Unsuspecting drug users are not getting the word on cutting the dose which is leading to more calls and more deaths. The increased need of four or more doses of antidote is costly and using up local resources. Clark County has one larger city and a number of smaller communities that are not immune to the increased number of overdoses. Grant funding, if available for Narcan have a time limit and agencies are reluctant to plan their future expenses based on these uncertain funds. Taxpayers in the end are picking up the costs associated with the overdoses and individuals who need emergency services may find that they are waiting longer for mutual aid units when calling 911 because medic units are on the scene of an overdose.