Overdose Prevention

Over the last couple of years, overdose deaths have decreased significantly within Stark County, Ohio, and nationally.  It is important to continue to monitor and respond to overdose activity in our local community.  The following are links to public facing dashboards to help community members, partners, and stakeholders access recent and local overdose related data.

Overdose Dashboard  - Fatal overdose incidents that occurred within Stark County
Non-Fatal Overdose Dashboard  - Non-fatal overdose incidents that occurred within Stark County

Save Stark

In addition to the dashboards listed above, the Stark County Health Department developed an overdose prevention platform called Save Stark.  Click here.  to access a variety of different resources such as locators to help you locate different prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction options.

Overdose Fatality Review Board

The OFR is a multi-sector board, comprised of members currently engaging with those affected by substance use disorder within the Stark County community.  The board held three meetings in 2025 and developed nine recommendations from the review of overdose deaths, which include the following:

• Increase utilization of peer support services within the ERs.
• Increase education on the role of CTP and parole-based programs.
• Education and awareness regarding trauma informed care.
• Provide rural communities with education on the importance of MAT/MOUD.
• Provide already existing transportation options to providers for those living in rural communities.
• Provide resources to spouses, children and parents of those who have lost someone to overdose.
• Research innovative ways to engage patients who have high no-show rates.
• Increase representation of courts or professionals within the criminal justice system on the OFR committee.
• Research reasons why methadone is not listed on the OARSS report.

 For more information about the Overdose Fatality Review Board contact Michelle Schoonover at [email protected].

Community Resources

• To access Substance Use Disorder treatment options (click for resources here). 
• To access Overdose Risk Factors (click for information here). 
• To access where to find naloxone (click for naloxone here).

Need naloxone? It's available at the Health Department. Stop by to receive your free kit and training. 

Additional naloxone resources:

• How to Use Naloxone
• Naloxone Video

Helpful Websites

• Stark County Mental Health & Addiction Recovery
• Stark County Opiate Task Force
• Ohio Department of Health - Drug Overdose resources
• SAMHSA Overdose Prevention & Response Toolkit