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Overdose deaths double in La Crosse County during 2020

Published

3 years ago

February 28, 2021

A troubled year, dominated by a pandemic, may have led to a surge in drug overdose deaths in La Crosse County.

The county’s Alliance to HEAL counts COVID-19 among the factors which may have led to 38…possibly 40…deadly overdoses in 2020.

The increase followed several years of drug deaths in the county going down, partly because of the widespread use of Narcan by first responders to revive people who had overdosed.

The Alliance believes COVID-19 may have been a factor in overdose deaths rising last year in La Crosse County.

On the more positive side, the Alliance says more than 800 doses of Narcan were distributed in the area, to save many people who had overdosed, and the county continues to collect used drug needles in drop boxes.

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.