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Welcome to the Cuyahoga County Overdose Response Bulletin!
This bulletin was created to keep the community up to date on local and national news, alerts, trends, and educational resources related to the overdose crisis.
In This Edition:
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In The News: Cuyahoga County’s Leading Overdose Killer is Now Cocaine. How Do We Treat It?, Facing Federal Hostility, Supervised Consumption Site Points to 1,900 Overdose Reversals, Permanent, Seasonal Shelter Provides a Refuge to Cleveland's Homeless and more...
- Cuyahoga County Snapshot: End of the Year Update
- Local Drug Trends: Pilot Drug Checks Highlight Hidden Dangers in Local Supply
- What To Know About Kratom: What is it and What to Look For
- Program Spotlight: Project White Butterfly and The Recovery Collective
- Staying Informed: Sign Up to Receive Local Alerts Including this Bulletin, Bad Batch Alerts from The SOAR Initiative, and more.
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Learning Opportunities: The Canadian Calls to Action: Advancing the Health and Rights of Women Living with HIV, Community Education Series for Stimulant Use and Heart Health, and Harm Reduction 101
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| This section highlights current local and national stories or trends that could have an impact on the overdose crisis locally. It offers a snapshot of the challenges and conversations shaping public perception and policy around substance use. | | |
According to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s latest report, there's been a 13.2%* decrease in suspected overdose deaths from last year. However, cocaine-related overdose deaths continue to rise in Cuyahoga County. This year’s fatalities are projected to be about 7.7%* higher than last year. The growing number of stimulant-related overdoses highlights an urgent need for continued harm reduction efforts, community education, and access to lifesaving resources.
Visit thrive4change.org/odalertresources and click on "Syringe Services & More" for information on local places to access free naloxone and fentanyl testing
| | By the end of 2025, 711 drug samples were tested through local drug checking efforts. While participants most often expected heroin, fentanyl remained the most frequently detected substance, followed by cocaine. Medetomidine, a veterinary sedative, increased sharply in the final months of the year, surpassing xylazine in some samples. Although medetomidine is not an opioid, it is often found mixed with fentanyl, supporting the importance of carrying naloxone, it continues to save lives. | | | |
About the Data: Local drug checking data comes from a pilot project that collects and tests 20 used syringes each week to identify the substances present. These are preliminary findings of the pilot project and the sample isn't representative of the overall drug supply.
The results are shared with both the individual who used the syringe and the community, offering critical insights into the local drug supply and helping individuals take steps to better protect themselves and reduce potential risks. Click below to see more details and data from this initiative.
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Kratom, according to the U.S. FDA is an herbal product from Southeast Asia that has been widely sold in the U.S. at gas stations, smoke shops, and online, often marketed for pain, mood, or opioid withdrawal. While some view it as “natural,” it can be addictive and cause serious side effects, including liver toxicity, seizures, and symptoms similar to opioid dependence and withdrawal.
Recent studies raise concerns about overdose risk, especially from concentrated compounds like 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), which can be more potent than morphine. Kratom is not FDA-approved or regulated for medical use, and many products may be mixed with other substances.
Effective December 12, 2025, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy’s emergency rule makes most kratom-related products illegal to sell, possess, or distribute in the state while a permanent rule is developed.
Local partners have reported an increase in people seeking detox support related to kratom use. Anyone using kratom should use caution, avoid mixing substances, and continue carrying naloxone, as it remains a lifesaving tool. (Image courtesy of Avenues)
| | Project White Butterfly - The Recovery Collective | |
Project White Butterfly is a peer-led recovery support organization providing outreach, peer support, and resource navigation across Cuyahoga County. Through consistent presence and relationship-building, they reduce harm, build trust, and connect people to care. Their long-standing partnership with Thrive for Change has strengthened access to harm reduction resources and helped save lives through compassionate, community-based support.
In 2025, Project White Butterfly distributed 2,486 doses of Narcan and served 1,953 people through 87 outreach events in 29 locations. They also opened a permanent space in Parma, offering recovery meetings, peer support, and drop-in services, with additional meetings and a free community dinner each Saturday at Christ Church Old Brooklyn. All services are free and supported through grants and donations
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Sign up to receive these community alerts:
Cuyahoga County Board of Health - Join the list for email alerts to stay informed about Overdose Spikes.
The SOAR Initiative (Safety. Outreach. Autonomy. Respect.) Subscribe to the alert network to receive notifications about overdose surges and bad batch alerts in your region.
The Overdose Response Bulletin - Not on the list to receive this email directly? Sign up today and stay informed on local overdose news, alerts, trends, and resources.
| | | The Canadian Calls to Action: Advancing the Health and Rights of Women Living with HIV: January 30th at 1:00pm | | |
Celebrate the launch of Canada’s Calls to Action for the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women living with HIV.
Built on the WHO’s global guidelines, leaders across Canada have created a framework to ensure women’s voices, rights, and health are centered in HIV research, policy, and care. The Calls to Action prioritize Indigenous women’s perspectives, stronger knowledge sharing, and improved sexual and reproductive health services.
Join this webinar to hear from the organizers and learn how these principles can drive meaningful, equitable change.
| | | Community Education Series for Stimulant Use and Heart Health: February 19th, 2026 at 5:30pm | |
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As part of the Northeast Ohio Opioid Education Series, WellLink Health Alliance and Thrive for Change are hosting a hybrid training on the rising impact of stimulant use (cocaine and methamphetamine) in our community.
Join in person at Thurgood Marshall Rec Center (SPACE IS LIMITED) or virtually via Teams to learn about local trends, heart health risks, harm reduction strategies, and available resources.
| |  | | | Learn How to Save Lives: Join Us for Harm Reduction 101 Training - March 17th at 6:00pm | | |
Join us for a virtual education opportunity presented by people with lived experience, overdose survivors, and experts in the field of Harm Reduction. Harm Reduction 101 is a comprehensive webinar about drugs, drug safety, and looking at our society's anti-drug culture from a social justice lens. The goal is for you to walk away with more than what you came with, and the confidence to continue to learn with an open mind.
This webinar also includes training on how to respond to an overdose with naloxone nasal spray.
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About This Initiative:
Coordinated by Thrive for Change through OD2A, the Overdose Response Bulletin is created with input from local organizations, agencies, community members, and individuals with lived experience. By working together, we’re building a resource that informs, connects, and supports those on the frontlines and those most impacted. Reply to this email to share content in the next bulletin, give feedback, or get involved!
Click here to learn about OD2A
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This publication was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of the Overdose Data to Action: LOCAL (CDC-RFA-CE-23-0003) award .
The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CDC/HHS or the U.S. Government.
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