Kenosha County investigating 10 suspected ODs in a month

The Kenosha County Medical Examiner’s Office is warning the public after a string of ten suspected overdose deaths in Kenosha County over the past month.

All of the deaths are awaiting confirmatory toxicology results, with final results expected in three to four months. All of these pending cases involve the suspected use of opioids/opiates including Percocet, Vicodin, oxycodone and fentanyl, or heroin, morphine and codeine.

In 2016, Kenosha County had 54 confirmed deaths due to toxicity. Six of those deaths were due to fentanyl or a fentanyl analog.

To date in 2017 in Kenosha County, there have been 25 confirmed deaths due to toxicity. Eight of these deaths are due to fentanyl or a fentanyl analog.

“Fentanyl is 80 to 100 times more powerful than morphine, and a trace amount can be deadly,” Kenosha County Medical Examiner Patrice Hall said. “These suspected and confirmed toxicity deaths have occurred in all age groups, economic levels, and all areas of Kenosha County.”

“Too many citizens have lost their lives due to an opioid overdose,” said Cynthia Johnson, director of the Kenosha County Division of Health. “Our goal is to save lives through prevention and safety measures. We ask family and friends to help their loved ones get connected with these measures.”

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