Missouri sees first significant decline in drug overdose deaths in almost a decade
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has reported the first significant overdose death decrease since 2015, with 1,948 deaths in 2023.
The department says 1,310 overdose deaths were caused by synthetic opioids, 18 by heroin with a synthetic drug present and five deaths caused by heroin alone.
According to the department, Missouri saw its highest number of overdose deaths in 2022, with 2,180 deaths reported. In Boone County, 55 overdose deaths were reported; 12 overdose deaths were reported in Cole County.
Over 73% of overdose deaths in 2023 were caused by opioids, with 37 opioid-related deaths in Boone County and 11 in Cole County.
Bobby Reichert, Director of Recovery Services at Burrell Behavioral Health Pheonix Clinic says they have seen a decrease in people looking for addiction treatment.
"Probably the last one to two years, we still see of course people searching for treatment," said Reichert. "But yes, the numbers have reduced quite a bit in that time frame."
Opioids and heroin once drove the drug overdose epidemic, but the department says synthetic opioids like fentanyl have become the primary drug causing death. Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.
Boone County reported fewer than five heroin overdose deaths in 2023 and Cole County reported none.
In Central Missouri, Phelps County had the third highest overdose death rate for all drugs, with the department reporting 29 deaths in 2023.
The Department of Health and Senior Services attributes the decrease to the availability of naloxone, a medication that reverses an opioid overdose. In 2017 the department issued a statewide standing order for naloxone, making the medication available without a prescription at pharmacies and public health agencies.
Narcan is free to get at Columbia Boone County Public Health and Human Services. So far this year, they have given out almost 6,000 doses of Narcan.
"We have given out 5878 doses, which would be 2939 boxes of Narcan," said Austin Krohn, Public Information Specialist for Columbia Boone County Public Health and Human Services. "That's just from us, so there's emergency responders that are also carrying it, Walmart, Target, you can get these over the counter."
Both health organizations recommend carrying Narcan even if you don't think you'll need to use it.
"At the end of the day, you're carrying it in case you need to save someone's life," said Krohn. "I think when that happens, especially if it happens in front of you and you have that on you, you're going to be thinking about jumping into action and helping that person."
If you are uneasy about administering Narcan, 911 operators can walk you through over the phone on how to use it. Instructions on how to use Narcan are on the packaging it comes in.
Nationwide, the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics reports 107,543 drug overdose deaths, a 3% decrease from 2022.
Columbia Boone County Public Health and Human Services will host a Save a Life event on January 14th at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, where the department will teach people how to use Narcan.
