The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that for the first time in six years, Milwaukee County is seeing a decline in drug overdose deaths. It’s still lower than the statewide decline, which is at 9.69% this year, with Milwaukee coming in at a 4% decline in overdose deaths. But even this modest decline is encouraging for an area that has lost hundreds of lives each year to drugs. The county invested over $8 million this fiscal cycle to combat overdoses.
“I’m hopeful that it’s the start of a trend, and when we see it nationally, when we see it across just about every state, I think it’s hopeful that this is a true change in the trajectory of overdose deaths, specifically opioid overdose deaths,” Chief Health Policy Adviser for Milwaukee County Ben Weston said.
We’re certainly glad Milwaukee and the rest of our state are making progress on this serious issue that has afflicted society for too long. We join county leaders in being optimistic that this signals a true change in the trend of overdose deaths for our state and nation. Hopefully, officials realize and promote the message that being in a married dad-and-mom family is the best defense a teen has against drugs.
