TRUMBULL COUNTY, OH - Overdose deaths in the Mahoning Valley continue to trend downward, but local officials say the progress is the result of years of collaboration and they warn the work is far from finished.

In Trumbull County, there were 54 overdose deaths in 2025, down from 61 deaths in 2024 and dramatically lower than 112 deaths recorded in 2023. The decline marks the third straight year the county has seen fewer fatal overdoses and the lowest total reported since the county began closely tracking the data several years ago.

Local leaders say the trend reflects the impact of expanded prevention efforts, increased treatment access, and stronger partnerships among health officials, law enforcement and community organizations.

Lauren Thorpe, Associate Director of the Trumbull County Mental Health and Recovery Board, said the drop in overdose deaths reflects years of work by agencies across the community.

“Definitely being able to reduce those drug overdoses over the past few years like we have is a huge accomplishment that is not only to people working with me, but to everyone in our community,” Thorpe said. “And what that tells us is what we’ve been working on works. So now is not the time to quit. Now is not the time to try a whole new strategy.”

Thorpe said local organizations plan to continue focusing on the same efforts that have helped drive the numbers down.

“We’re going to keep doing a lot of what we’ve been doing, helping get Narcan out into community, host events where clinicians have the opportunity to hear from professionals in the field and learn what the latest techniques are for treatment,” Thorpe said.

One of the biggest factors contributing to the decline has been increased access to Narcan, the opioid-reversal medication that can stop overdoses when administered quickly.

Officials with the Trumbull County Mental Health and Recovery Board say widespread distribution of the medication through outreach programs, public health agencies and community groups has played a critical role in saving lives.

Thorpe said state support has played a major role in making Narcan widely available.

“I think the state has given a lot,” Thorpe said. “Certainly we would not be able to get the amount of Narcan into our community without the support of the state. Most of what we’ve been able to get has been at either very low cost or no cost.”

She said the medication has proven to be a critical tool in reducing overdose deaths.

“We know it’s Narcan that’s saving lives,” Thorpe said. “We know that when we see that we have a big push in getting Narcan out in the streets, we see a decrease in overdoses following soon after that.”

Officials say another key reason for the improvement is strong cooperation among community partners.

In Trumbull County, the ASAP coalition, a network of health providers, treatment professionals, law enforcement officers and social service organizations, meets regularly to track overdose trends and coordinate responses.

Thorpe said the coalition’s monthly meetings bring together people from many different backgrounds who all share the same goal.

“Our community partners are wonderful,” Thorpe said. “When I walk in that room and just hear the conversations of all the different agencies and people in that room, people in law enforcement have a very different experience with people with addiction than a family member does or a treatment professional does.”

She said the collaboration allows agencies to combine their perspectives and respond more effectively to the crisis.

“I’m just really proud when I see them all come together, come from their different backgrounds, but put that all together for a common goal,” Thorpe said.

These partnerships allow agencies to share data, identify emerging drug threats and deploy resources such as Narcan kits or outreach teams to areas experiencing spikes in overdoses.

Despite the declining death toll, officials say the opioid crisis remains a serious concern.

Toxicology reports show fentanyl and related synthetic opioids were involved in more than half of Trumbull County’s overdose deaths in 2025.

Health officials warn the drug’s potency and frequent presence in other substances continues to make overdoses highly unpredictable and dangerous.

Because of that, agencies say harm-reduction strategies including Narcan distribution, treatment access and community education remain essential.

Thorpe said local agencies will continue education programs, outreach initiatives and public events throughout the year.

Among those efforts is the county’s annual recovery rally held each September, which brings together individuals in recovery, treatment providers and community partners to highlight the possibility of recovery.

“Recovery can happen,” Thorpe said. “And we want people in our community to see that and build hope.”