The Latest: Ohio governor sees progress, despite drug toll

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Latest on the Ohio’s new record drug overdose death toll (all times local):

2 p.m.

Ohio’s governor sees progress in the state’s anti-drug efforts, despite a new report that shows another record death toll from accidental overdoses.

Accidental drug overdoses killed a record 3,050 people in Ohio last year.

Republican Gov. John Kasich (KAY’-sik) says he feels “terrible” about the deaths, but believes lives are being saved by steps taken, including increased monitoring of drug prescriptions and crackdowns on “pill mills.”

He wants continued expansion of anti-drug messages to young people, beginning in their early school years. He says the previous generation grew up accustomed to easy access to painkillers that have fueled overdose deaths.

He also urged interstate co-operation in anti-drug efforts.

Kasich spoke Thursday to a special regional judicial summit on opioids in Cincinnati involving officials from nine states.

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9:30 a.m.

Ohio officials say accidental drug overdoses killed a record 3,050 people in the state last year, or an average of eight per day.

Over one-third of those were linked to the powerful painkiller fentanyl. A report released Thursday shows fentanyl-related deaths more than doubled from 2014, pushing the overdose toll to a record.

The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services’ medical director says Ohio’s addictions epidemic can only be dealt with through prevention, intervention, treatment and use of life-saving measures such as an overdose antidote.

Officials concede the problem has grown, but they have hope of making headway. They point to progress in curbing prescription opiate abuse and say they’re working to improve access to the antidote and drug treatment and recovery resources.