The Monroe County Heroin Task Force says it’s seen a reduction in opioid drug overdose deaths in the Rochester area over the past four months, and August had the lowest number of fatalities so far this year.
The August stats released today show 92 heroin or opioid drug overdoses in August, with seven of them fatal. For the year to date, the numbers are 769 ODs with 110 deaths.
Sheriff Todd Baxter says they’re grateful for the decrease in overdose deaths, but the fight against drug overdoses continues and it remains one of the great epidemics of our time.
Overdoses were reported in the City of Rochester and 14 suburban towns. The oldest victim was 67 and the youngest 19. Men accounted for 68 of the victims and women for 24. The large majority of victims were white, with Hispanics and distant second and African Americans accounting for just six of the overdoses.