Cincinnati and Wider Ohio See Multi‑Year Drop in Overdose Deaths Amid Shifts in Fentanyl Supply and Treatment
Cincinnati and wider Ohio have seen a multi‑year decline in overdose deaths after the peak of carfentanil in the illicit fentanyl supply, according to CBS on‑the‑ground reporting. Local coalitions like Hamilton County’s Addiction Response Coalition point to a mix of targeted enforcement, expanded treatment and harm‑reduction efforts for the progress, but officials caution addiction persists and sustained funding and services are still needed.
📌 Key Facts
- CBS on-the-ground reporting from Ohio shows overdose deaths are falling following the peak in carfentanil-related overdoses.
- The coverage highlights on-the-ground examples from Cincinnati-area communities and wider Ohio.
- Local coalitions — including Hamilton County’s Addiction Response Coalition — are combining enforcement, treatment and harm-reduction approaches.
- The report presents these local coalitions as concrete examples of strategies that are working to reduce overdoses.
- Despite the decline in deaths, communities continue to struggle with addiction and gaps in services.
- The segment underscores that the opioid crisis is not over and calls for sustained funding and services to maintain progress.
📊 Relevant Data
In Ohio in 2023, the overdose death rate for Black non-Hispanic males was 80.3 deaths per 100,000 population, the highest among gender and race/ethnicity groups, compared to 55.5 for White non-Hispanic males.
2023 Ohio Unintentional Drug Overdose Report — Ohio Department of Health
From 2019 to 2021, overdose death rates increased by 94% among Black individuals in the US, compared to a 46% increase among White individuals, driven in part by the influx of fentanyl and disparities in access to medications for opioid use disorder like buprenorphine.
Fentanyl and COVID-19 pandemic reshaped racial profile of overdose — Penn State University
Since approximately 2019, Mexico has replaced China as the primary source of illicit fentanyl entering the United States, with Mexican cartels producing and trafficking the drug using precursors often sourced from China.
Illicit Fentanyl and Mexico's Role — Congressional Research Service
In Ohio, the overdose death rate for Black non-Hispanic individuals was nearly double that of White and Hispanic populations as of 2025, despite overall declines in overdose rates.
Increasing Racial Disparities in Ohio Overdose Rates — Cuyahoga County Board of Health
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- CBS presents on‑the‑ground reporting from Ohio highlighting that overdose deaths are falling after the carfentanil peak, while acknowledging ongoing challenges.
- It amplifies the role of local coalitions like Hamilton County’s Addiction Response Coalition in blending enforcement with treatment and harm‑reduction, giving viewers concrete examples of what’s working.
- The segment underscores that despite falling deaths, communities still struggle with addiction and the need for sustained funding and services, reinforcing that the crisis is not 'over.'