OD toll put at 351 in county
Study: 2013-2015 figure was the 3rd highest of Maryland jurisdictions
Anne Arundel County experienced the third most deaths caused by drug overdoses in Maryland from 2013 to 2015, outpacing more populated counties by a significant margin, according to a study released this morning.
“I am, unfortunately, not that surprised about it,” said county Health Officer Jinlene Chan.
The study, by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, found 351 people died from drug overdoses in Anne Arundel during that time. The study examined factors which contribute to an individual’s health, such as behavior and socioeconomic background.
Only Baltimore City and Baltimore County experienced more deaths because of drugs during the time, the study found.
Law enforcement and public officials have largely attributed the increase in overdoses to a regional increase of heroin and opiate use.
But more populated counties farther from the Baltimore metro area — such as Montgomery and Prince George’s counties —had significantly reduced mortality rates due to drug overdoses. Both have almost twice the population of Anne Arundel.
While Montgomery County had nearly double the estimated population of Anne Arundel County, it had 222 fatal drug overdoses.
Chan said the trend doesn’t show signs of stopping, with 119 people on record in 2016 as dying due to drug overdoses — about twice as many as in 2015.
“Obviously we have an epidemic. We’ve known that for a couple years,” said Lt. Ryan Frashure, police spokesman. “Now it’s finally starting to feel like we’re getting the public support.”
The Anne Arundel County Police Department is coordinating with the Baltimore and Annapolis police departments as part of a joint heroin task force to tackle the problem. This month, the unit was an instrumental part of a major drug bust that included arrests and seizures in Baltimore County, Baltimore City and Anne Arundel County.
Frashure said overdose numbers could be higher because people from other jurisdictions drive to the county to buy drugs and then overdose while still in the county.
He added that “at least half” of the overdoses in the county were not residents, but stressed that the department has implemented measures to tackle the problem.
Police officers treat reports of heroin overdoses as “priority one” emergency calls, requiring a “lights and sirens” response from nearby officers.
Frashure said the entire police force has been trained to use naloxone, a drug that suppresses the effects of an overdose.
Recent data suggests it has helped cut
“I am, unfortunately, not that surprised about it,” said county Health Officer Jinlene Chan.
The study, by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, found 351 people died from drug overdoses in Anne Arundel during that time. The study examined factors which contribute to an individual’s health, such as behavior and socioeconomic background.
Only Baltimore City and Baltimore County experienced more deaths because of drugs during the time, the study found.
Law enforcement and public officials have largely attributed the increase in overdoses to a regional increase of heroin and opiate use.
But more populated counties farther from the Baltimore metro area — such as Montgomery and Prince George’s counties —had significantly reduced mortality rates due to drug overdoses. Both have almost twice the population of Anne Arundel.
While Montgomery County had nearly double the estimated population of Anne Arundel County, it had 222 fatal drug overdoses.
Chan said the trend doesn’t show signs of stopping, with 119 people on record in 2016 as dying due to drug overdoses — about twice as many as in 2015.
“Obviously we have an epidemic. We’ve known that for a couple years,” said Lt. Ryan Frashure, police spokesman. “Now it’s finally starting to feel like we’re getting the public support.”
The Anne Arundel County Police Department is coordinating with the Baltimore and Annapolis police departments as part of a joint heroin task force to tackle the problem. This month, the unit was an instrumental part of a major drug bust that included arrests and seizures in Baltimore County, Baltimore City and Anne Arundel County.
Frashure said overdose numbers could be higher because people from other jurisdictions drive to the county to buy drugs and then overdose while still in the county.
He added that “at least half” of the overdoses in the county were not residents, but stressed that the department has implemented measures to tackle the problem.
Police officers treat reports of heroin overdoses as “priority one” emergency calls, requiring a “lights and sirens” response from nearby officers.
Frashure said the entire police force has been trained to use naloxone, a drug that suppresses the effects of an overdose.
Recent data suggests it has helped cut
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