COLUMBUS, Ind. — Fatal drug overdoses have continued to climb in Bartholomew County, with local officials estimating earlier this week that overdose deaths have matched last year for the highest annual total on record.
The coroner’s office is estimating that 31 people in Bartholomew County have died from drug overdoses this year, adding that the figure “should be very alarming” for a community of this size and mirrors trends seen across the state and country, said Bartholomew County Deputy Coroner Jay Frederick.
By comparison, there were 31 overdose deaths in Bartholomew County last year, the highest since at least 2015 and up from 24 in 2019, according to figures from the coroner’s office. This year’s total marks the first time on record that Bartholomew County has recorded more than 60 overdose deaths in a a two-year period.
The 2021 numbers include at least one suspected overdose death that is still pending toxicology results, Frederick said. The coroner’s office plans to conduct an audit of its caseload this year and publish a report at some point next year.
“We can estimate 31 (deaths),” Frederick said. “…There’s still some toxicology testing out there that we’re waiting to get reports back on.”
For the complete story, see Thursday’s Republic.
