HENDRICKS COUNTY — A new report recently released from health officials in Hendricks County shows the number of people dying from drug overdoses is decreasing.
Opioids still contribute to more deaths than any other substance in Hendricks County, according to the report released by Hendricks County Health Department on Wednesday.
In 2018 and 2019, the number of fatal drug overdoses decreased after increasing in 2016 and 2017, according to data from the Indiana State Department of Health.
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“Another serious health problem affecting Hendricks County residents is opioid misuse,” said Chase Cotten, a public health education specialist at the Hendricks County Health Department, in a press release. “More than half of the people who tragically died by drug overdose in 2019 in Hendricks County were misusing an opioid.”
Here are some key points revealed in the report:
- From 2006-2012, 92.8 opioid prescriptions per 100 people were given in Hendricks County. In 2017, the number decreased to 65 opioid prescriptions per 100 people were given in the county.
- People who are 18-35 years old are the highest age category for fatal drug overdoses in Hendricks County.
- The number of people who died from a drug overdose in Hendricks County decreased from 2018 to 2019, according to preliminary data in the report. In 2018, there were 25 fatal overdoses, 17 of which involved an opioid. In 2019, 18 people died from a drug overdose, 9 of which involved an opioid.
- The county health department distributed 186 Nalonxe kits from 2016-2019 after Aaron's Law was passed. The law allows for Hoosiers to carry Nalaxone, a drug used to reverse the effects of an opioid.
“It’s important to remember that these numbers are not just numbers, they represent our loved ones," Cotten said in the release.
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You can read the full report here.
To view information on the Hendricks County Health Partnerships and resources available, click here.
