OD toll put at 351 in county

down on fatalities, if not overdoses.

Between Jan. 1 and March 22, 267 people overdosed on drugs in Anne Arundel County, according to the Police Department, with 24 people dying as a result.

During the same time period last year,177 people had overdosed with 27 deaths.

The study also examined factors that contribute to a person’s health, such as the availability of primary care physicians or the adult obesity rate.

Chan said that while the report found the county scored on average or slightly above other counties in the state — such as behavioral health and high school graduation rate — the results could mask a growing problem in the northern part of the county.

“What we know is that in general that north county has [a] poorer health outcome,”

Chan said.

While the county scored highly on the study’s “food environment index,” which measures the availability of healthy food options, she said population centers like Brooklyn Park still struggle to offer healthy options.

“Health is more than health, it’s not just about doctors and hospitals and nutrition,”

Chan said. “It’s poverty, educational level, safe housing and safe neighborhoods.” [e-mail]