Wayne committee tasked with wiping out drug overdose deaths

WOOSTER − To help put an end to overdose deaths, the Wayne County commissioners created an Overdose Fatality Review Committee, and appointed its chairman.

Health Commissioner Nick Cascarelli will lead the committee that will investigate drug overdose and opioid-involved deaths in the county.

Health department records show Wayne County saw 40 overdose deaths in 2021, according to a news release from the Wayne County Commissioners' Office. As of Jan. 5, there were 28 deaths in 2022 attributed to overdose, with some deaths still pending an investigation.

If Cascarelli could clarify one thing, it would be that all overdose deaths are preventable deaths, period.

“The purpose of the committee is to bring all of the affected agencies together and work to understand these overdose deaths better,” he said in the release. “We want to know what we can do as a community to prevent future overdose deaths and fatalities; that is the ultimate goal.”

Numerous agencies throughout the county have a stake in preventing overdose deaths.

“The Ohio Revised Code allows for this as long as the county commissioners establish the board,” he said. “This is a permissive board, not a required board. It will be comprised of people that have a genuine concern for those facing drug addiction problems. Our goal is to stop preventable deaths.”

The committee will create a database and compile demographic information, circumstances and geographic location regarding the events surrounding each overdose death in the county. Using that information, the committee will devise strategies that various agencies in the community can use.

Cascarelli is begrudgingly prepared for the task.

“First, we need to identify who is best fitted to be on the committee and invite them to participate,” he said. “I sincerely hope that this is a committee that is never needed.”

What is especially complicated for Cascarelli is determining who is authorized to access the information committee members will be dealing with, like previous treatment programs and court records. Once everyone is on board, he hopes to convene by mid-year, he said.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Wayne committee tasked with wiping out drug overdose deaths