Heroin Overdoses Continue To Climb In Anne Arundel County

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD -- Anne Arundel County police have released year-to-date heroin and opiate overdose statistics. Overall, overdoses are up from this time last year. The data is grim.

The chart, which measures data from Jan. 1 to June 20 this year, breaks down the statistics into fatal and nonfatal, as well as by district. Total overdoses are up to 546 from 416 this time last year.

Fatal overdoses are down, though, to 62 from 68 last year. What may account for this is the increased use of naloxone, a drug which reverses the effects of opiate overdoses. Naloxone was used by the AAPD 114 times so far this year, opposed to 51 times last year and just nine times in 2015.

Anne Arundel County Police recently told Patch that while the problem isn't solved, police and others involved in the crisis must celebrate the small victories. "There has been some tremendous hard work put in by first responders, Health Department, and many treatment providers in Anne Arundel County," Public Information Officer Lt. Ryan Frashure said. "We have worked as a team in the areas of education, prevention, and treatment and we hope this is a sign that it is paying off."

The Safe Stations Program seems to a big success, he said, and it has so far provided treatment for about 50 people. "Persons struggling with addiction need to know that there is hope and help. We hope that they will see some of these success stories and know that they can get clean too."

The northern district has suffered most from opiate overdoses so far this year, with 213 reported cases. Following is the eastern district with 128, western with 85, southern with 65 and 54 in Annapolis.

The synthetic opiate fentanyl was involved in 40 of the 62 deadly overdoses this year. It is extremely dangerous, being 50 times more potent than heroin, according to the DEA.

There is another synthetic opiate, called carfentanil, which is immensely more deadly. It is 5,000 times more potent than heroin. It is responsible for seven of the 62 fatal opiate overdoses this eyar.

There were two juvenile opiate overdoses this year, as opposed to one last year.

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