Hamilton County Heroin Coalition

A dramatic spike in suspected drug overdose deaths has prompted Hamilton County officials to issue a warning to users. They say shortages of fentanyl from China are over, user tolerance is likely low and dealers are finding new drugs to mix in what could become fatal concoctions.

In what could be the nation's first show of unity in the opioid settlement arena, the state of Ohio and its local governments are close to an agreement on how to divvy up the money when it comes.

The Hamilton County Heroin Coalition is launching a pre-arrest diversion program aimed at getting people into treatment rather than going to jail.

The Hamilton County Heroin Coalition has ten new ideas for decreasing the drug epidemic this year and at the top of the list is an Engagement Center run by Talbert House in Corryville. It will be the first stop for those who are addicted.

The Hamilton County Heroin Coalition will use one quarter of a new $400,000 federal grant to predict who might be the next overdose victim and get them into treatment before it happens.

Hamilton County's leaders aren't counting on help from the state to build an opioid diversion center. Commissioners passed a motion directing the administration to look into building such a facility.

The number of babies born drug dependent continues to increase. In Greater Cincinnati and elsewhere neonatologists are looking for answers.

Cincinnati area police are on the hunt for the source of a tainted heroin batch that caused 21 people to overdose in 24 hours Tuesday in the areas of Price Hill, Camp Washington and the Beekman Street Corridor. All have recovered after emergency personnel administered Narcan.

Hamilton County police and prosecutors are starting to make progress in identifying heroin dealers and charging them with the overdose deaths or near deaths of their users.

Last month, Kroger made Naloxone, a heroin-overdose reversal medication, available without a prescription in the Tri-state. The drug works within minutes and it is believed will save many lives. Ohio and Kentucky rank in the top five for highest overdose death rate, according to the Centers for Disease Control; heroin and prescription pain relievers like fentanyl are responsible for a majority of those deaths.

Update Friday 11:00 a.m.:

Dennis Deters has been sworn into office. Hamilton County Clerk of Courts Tracy Winkler administered the oath of office.

Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Neil deputized members of the county's heroin task force Thursday morning so they are able to make arrests in communities outside their jurisdictions. 

The purpose of deputizing them is to further disrupt the flow the drug, which continues to have a strong hold on the area.

Newtown Police Chief Tom Synan is leading the effort.

"What's big about this is no matter where you are dealing heroin, no matter where your user goes, it's going to come back to you," Synan said. 

The Hamilton County Sheriff's Department is partnering with the public to attack the heroin epidemic head-on.

Part of the strategy is to hold two forums explaining what the department has done, how residents can help, and where we go from here.

The heroin problem has reached epidemic levels, nationally as well as here in our region. Hamilton County saw more than 170 deaths due to drug poisonings last year. Several health and law enforcement agencies in the county recently joined together to form the Hamilton County Heroin Coalition.