Mohave County OFR: methamphetamine and polysubstance use prominent in reviewed 2024 overdose deaths

Selena Lakpakan, presenting the Mohave County 2024 overdose fatality review, told the board the review team examined a random sample of 26 of the county's 83 overdose deaths to identify trends and prevention opportunities. "For 2024, we had 83 deaths total, and we reviewed 26," she said. The review found 62% of sampled cases involved polysubstance use; among single‑substance cases, methamphetamine was the most common (31% of single‑substance cases). Overall, methamphetamine was detected in 19 of 26 reviewed cases and fentanyl in 14.

Lakpakan said common contributing factors included diagnosed substance use disorder (88% of cases), histories of homelessness (73%) and incarceration (73%), and mental‑health diagnoses in many cases. The OFR's top recommendations included increased tailored patient education on overdose risk, community training to recognize and respond to overdoses and expand harm‑reduction resources, standardized screening and medication‑for‑opioid‑use‑disorder access in jails, stigma‑reduction training for providers and custody staff, and improved multi‑system care coordination to connect individuals with housing, treatment, insurance and transportation. Board members asked about Colorado City representation on the review team; Lakpakan said she has invited local contacts and there is interest but participation has been limited by timing and capacity.