EMS says overdose calls also up
In 2016, the majority of overdose deaths in Madison County were heroin or fentanyl related. Through the first six months in 2017, that trend has continued; however, methamphetamine isn’t far behind.
According to Madison County Coroner Jimmy Cornelison, there have been 24 confirmed drug-related deaths — four more are pending toxicology results — in 2017 through mid-June. Of those 24, 10 were heroin/fentanyl-related and eight were meth-related.
“Talking to other coroners around the state, even in smaller counties, they are seeing meth more,” Cornelison said.
Fayette County Chief Deputy Coroner Shea Willis said they are starting to see an increase in methamphetamine as well.
Although heroin-related deaths may be trending down, according to Cornelison, drug overdoses are not.
According to the 2016 Overdose Fatality Report released by the state, Madison County had 29 drug overdose deaths — a slight decrease from 30 in 2015, but an increase from 23 in 2014.
Willis said Fayette County is slightly ahead of last year as well with 83 drug-related deaths — 63 being opioid-related — through the first six months of 2017.
• • •
After seeing an increase of nearly 50 percent in the first three months of the year, opioid overdose patients requiring the administration of Narcan has increased 35 percent at the half-way point over the same period last year, according to Madison County’s EMS Director Carlos Coyle.
Coyle said 163 patients required 261 doses of Narcan administration. In the first six months of 2016, 123 patients required 193 doses.
“There are many calls though that aren’t included in those statistics,” Coyle said.
The EMS director said there are many more drug-related responses, but not all require Narcan or would respond to Narcan due to being on another drug.
EMS has already administered more doses of Narcan in 2017 than it did in all of 2014.
In that year, Coyle said 231 doses were administered to 186 patients. He said the numbers increased to 404 doses to 264 patients in 2015 and were even worse in 2016 as EMS administered 443 doses to 291 patients.
Despite the upward trend, Coyle said EMS will continue to be there to help.
“We can’t give up,” he said.
richmondregister.com/news/meth-related-deaths-rising/article_37af332c-6e76-11e7-9319-df5843a9c2ff.html
