Kenosha County (Witi) - Authorities in Kenosha County concerned about the recent outbreak of overdoses and overdose deaths that occurred in Kenosha County.
Authorities believe that three people died from an overdose of heroin between the night of Friday, August 1 and the morning of Monday, August 4, confirm toxicology tests whether heroin or other drugs were a factor in the death.
Now gave the coroner a public health alert.
"There is something in the community. Know not exactly what we want and the community know what's going on. Would be the same if there is a flu epidemic or a manifestation of the disease," said Kenosha County ME Patrice Hall.
So far in 2014 there have been 15 confirmed deaths from drug overdose. There are several other pending toxicology results dead before he identified as a death by drug overdose. There were 19 confirmed deaths due to toxicity (overdose) At this time last year, in 2013.
"This is a relatively new problem, and not just from Kenosha. This is nationwide, and the great thing that happens is that people begin to switch prescription pain reliever addicted to heroin," Byron Wright Kenosha Human Development said services.
The agency offers counseling treatment programs and mental health crisis and addictions. Center staff and the coroner's office said the passage of painkillers to heroin is fairly common. Currently, there are six boxes across the county fall where people safely dispose of unwanted prescription drugs.
"I think we can not stress enough that recovery is possible, and we have to believe that to believe as an agency and we have that as a community," said Kari Foss with Kenosha Human Development Services.
If you are experiencing a drug overdose, please call 911, the person to get immediate medical attention. The Wisconsin legislature passed a law this year to provide some protection from prosecution of persons who reported an overdose.
Please call kdog (Kenosha Drug Operations Group) - 262-605-7930 if you have any leads or advice to the police.
Other resources in Kenosha County available:
- Mental Health and Addiction Resource Centre, 5407-8 th Avenue, Kenosha. Open Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 17:00 - 262-657-7188.
- Human Development Services - Kenosha. 262-657-7188 Someone to talk to 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.
- Results:
- drugfreeworld.org
- drugabuse.gov
- samhsa.gov