The number of deaths to have involved drug overdoses has been up this year in Berrien County. According to Medical Examiner Doctor Rick Johansen, there were 38 deaths in the first six months of 2015 in which overdose was mentioned or listed as a cause, while there were 64 in all of 2014. While alcohol shows up as a factor in more of those deaths and than any other substance, Johansen says it’s been steady, while other drugs are a growing problem.
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In 2015, heroin has shown up as a factor in five deaths, while painkillers have appeared in eight. Johansen says the two are connected in that many heroin addicts start out abusing things like codeine.
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Johansen says that health officials are very aware of this epidemic, noting that it has spread to all communities. He says the way to fight it is through education of the public, and also education of doctors so they don’t prescribe so many painkillers. Also, in response to the growing overdose problem, the Berrien County Sheriffs Department is soon going to have all of its deputies carry Narcan, a drug that can get an overdose victim breathing.
