CLEVELAND — Thousands of people every year are dying from overdose deaths in Ohio.

What You Need To Know

  • Dean Roff founded Homeless Hookup to give back to those in need

  • Roff distributes Naloxone to try to prevent drug overdose deaths 

  • The state has increased the number of naloxone kits it has distributed every year since 2014 

According to the state’s department of health, the number peaked in 2021, with nearly 5,200 unintentional overdose deaths reported.

But since then it’s been on the decline, dropping nearly 5% in 2022.

It comes as the state is handing out more and more kits known to help reverse overdoses.

“It was more than once that Narcan had to save her life and it’s because of Narcan that I don’t have to go to that family members funeral,” said Dean Roff, founder of Homeless Hookup.

Roff takes Narcan distribution personally. His sister was addicted to opioids. 

“It prevented my niece from going to her mom’s funeral. This stuff is super important to me. It’s a personal fight,” Roff said.  

Roff has dedicated his life to helping others. He founded Homeless Hookup. A mobile distribution center where he drives around in an OSU Buckeyes themed ambulance giving back to those in need. 

Roff hands out everything from toiletries to food and, most importantly, Narcan. 

He said recently someone told him how the Narcan helped save his friend’s life. 

“He told me that he went off from his tent encampment to use the bathroom and he came back and his friend was just gray and starting to foam and he administered two or three doses of this stuff and his friend’s alive,” Roff said.

Roff has a set route for his donations, making stops at homeless encampments around Cleveland. 

“I like to be consistent, I like to be reliable. We start on the East side, kind of work our way to the West. We go usually as far as West 140th West 117th, usually a pretty busy stop for us,” Roff said.

And Roff isn’t alone. The state has increased the number of naloxone kits it’s distributed every year since 2014. The latest data showing it handed out more than 200,000 kits in 2022, helping reverse more than 18,000 overdoses.

“The same amount we were using isn’t going to work for the problem we have now. The problem is evolving and we have to evolve the solution, which means more Narcan,” Roff said.

Narcan can be purchased over the counter now and it’s also being passed out at rest stops. 

“This stuff is speaking for itself. We’re getting more of it, it’s cheaper than it was. There’s a reason for that. It works. We need it,” Roff said.