About 18 people per month have been dying from drug overdoses in Summit County over the past year and a half, according to data from the Summit County Medical Examiner's office.

So, we talked to Summit County Health Commissioner, Donna Skoda today, about what we might be able to do about it.

First, she says,  people should be aware that street drugs these days are often mixed with the synthetic Opiod, Fentanyl, which can be fatal, even in very small amounts. As a result, she is encouraging the use of free Fentanyl test strips, and the overdose reversal drug, Narcan, which can be obtained through the health department.

 In addition, she advises anyone who uses street drugs—even Marijuana, which is also sometimes mixed with Fentanyl—to do so in a group, so someone is on hand who can administer Narcan, and call for help, if necessary.

But there's much more to it than that.

Listen now to her conversation with our Morning Show Host, Ray Horner:

Summit County Public Health Commissioner, Donna Skoda