JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown Post-Journal is reporting drug overdose deaths in Chautauqua County are trending downward compared to other recent years.
A report citing data from the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services says the 2018 rate of drug overdose deaths has declined by at least 12 percent compared to 2017. The data also shows that the decline could be as much as 68 percent, but is dependent on how many pending overdose investigations turn into drug-induced fatalities.
County health officials attribute the decline of fatal drug overdoses to a variety of likely factors, including an increase in availability and use of naloxone to counter the effects of opioids, a shift in drug use from opioids to methamphetamine and an increase in access to drug treatment and recovery resources.
Leave a Reply