Opioid Overdoses In Howard County Exceed 2016 Total: Police

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — One person died over the weekend in Howard County from an opioid overdose, according to the Howard County Police Department. Two other people overdosed and survived, police said.

The cases were the latest in a deadly trend that police warned the public about this week. So far, police said, there have been more opioid overdoses as of Oct. 23 than there were in all of 2016 in Howard County.

Here are the numbers of overdoses involving opioids reported in Howard County as of Monday, police said:

• 138 nonfatal; 43 deadly overdoses in 2017
• 133 nonfatal; 29 deadly overdoses in 2016

In 93 percent of nonfatal overdoses this year, Howard County police said the antidote Narcan was administered.

The numbers may fluctuate due to testing and autopsy reports. However, police said that opioid overdoses are on the rise in Howard County as a whole and encourage people to seek help if they need it.

Gov. Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency due to opioid use in March after health data showed opioid-related deaths nearly doubled from 2015 to 2016, with 1,089 overdoses reported in the former and 2,089 tallied in the latter in Maryland.

Those in Howard County seeking help with opioids may call 800-422-0009, which is Maryland's Crisis Hotline.

Maryland residents who need help finding substance abuse treatment resources can also visit the Department of Health website for help finding substance abuse treatment facilities.

• Record Number of Drug Overdose Deaths Tops 2,000 In 2016 In Maryland
• Heroin State Of Emergency: Maryland In Crisis, Governor Says

Graphic courtesy of the Howard County Police Department.