WEST CHESTER, Ohio — Data shows the number of overdose deaths in Ohio is falling but for families affected by drugs, it's just not fast enough.

There were still close to 5,000 people in Ohio killed from drug overdoses last year, now treatment centers are ramping up their efforts to help. 


What You Need To Know

  • The Ohio Department of Health is reporting drug overdoses are down, but the number of overdose deaths in Ohio still stands at almost 4,500 last year alone

  • Community Medical Services is a treatment center that's been trying to help with things like counseling and medication 

  • The center just opened a new center in Akron to address the drug overdose problem

For 10 years, Daniel Cottner was locked up on drug-related crimes.

“I came into contact with people related to the past and was messing around with drugs that I thought were like Vicodin and stuff, but they weren’t, they were fentanyl,” said Cottner. 

He became addicted to fentanyl.

“If I don’t go in the bathroom in 20 minutes and snort a pill, I guess I’m going to start getting sick. That’s what it is like psychologically, you know? And you can’t easily get out of that,” said Cottner. 

It’s the reason he’s getting counseling and a different kind of medication to help.

“I’ve been tapering down, you know, it is my intention to eventually not have to use methadone any more,” said Cottner. 

The place where he’s getting treatment is called Community Medical Services, just outside of Cincinnati, in West Chester.

Stephanie Bryant is the regional impact manager at the treatment center. She said it is one of ten centers they have across Ohio, and they’re adding more.

“We opened up a new clinic in Akron to address the opioid crisis. There’s been so many overdoses from fentanyl and just overdoses in general,” said Bryant. 

She said they’re targeting areas with little to no access to addiction treatment.

“I’ve lived experience with substance use disorder, so I’m a certified peer recovery supporter and even when the court was telling me that I had to be abstinent, I could not do it,” said Bryant. 

Sometimes for thousands, it’s too late.

According to the Ohio Department of Health, almost 4,500 people died last year from a drug overdose, but with more treatment centers and addicts recovering, they’re hoping to change that.

“To stop and like assess that and then break it down and then figure out what you have to do different is hard, but also it gives you a different kind of power,” said Cottner. 

If you or someone you know is suffering from drug addiction, and would like more information about these treatment centers, click here.