Possible Overdose Death Being Investigated In Cleveland Heights

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — Police are investigating a possible overdose death in Cleveland Heights.

A 45-year-old woman was found dead inside a home in the Forest Hill neighborhood on Tuesday morning. She was taken to the hospital at 2:43 a.m. by the Cleveland Heights Fire Department but later died.

Cleveland Heights Police Chief Annette Mecklenburg said they believe the woman died of an overdose. Investigators are waiting on a toxicology report from the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's office.

Detectives are still investigating the woman's death.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a sharp increase in overdose deaths in Ohio, according to a recent report from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. During the second quarter of 2020, Ohio's death rate from opioid overdoses jumped to 11.01 per 100,000 people — the highest rate seen in a decade. The previous 10-year high was in the first quarter of 2017, when opioid overdoses effected 10.87 people per 100,000.

The Ohio Attorney General urged Ohioans to seek medical care in the event of an overdose, despite concerns about COVID-19. He also asked Ohioans to be vigilant about how they store prescription medications.

Many opioid addictions begin at home. Yost's office released guidelines for properly storing medications, including:

• Do not share medication
• Track usage of pills to prevent pilfering
• Lock up addictive prescriptions
• Store prescriptions in a high location, to keep them out of reach of children

Get more tips on how to safely keep and dispose of prescription medications from Yost's office.