Butler County sees 4 possible drug overdoses in 4 days

Four people died from possible overdoses in Butler County from Friday through Monday, according to the coroner’s office.

Martin Schneider, coroner administrator, said an average of one overdose a day is an increase compared to recent numbers. He said it will take weeks before the toxicology results are back.

MORE: Butler County watching as latest new drug in overdose battle ‘rears its head’

The number of drug overdoses steadily increased from 2012 to 2017 in Butler County, according to the coroner’s office. In 2017, there were 232 fatal overdoses and 191 were opioid-related. Then in 2018, for the first time since 2012, the number of ODs dropped to 164 deaths, with 135 opioid-related.

On Sunday, the Hamilton County Heroin Coalition issued an alert after 15 people were hospitalized in 24 hours for apparent overdoses.

Newtown Police Chief Tom Synan, a coordinator with the heroin coalition, said officials suspect fentanyl mixed in heroin and cocaine are the main causes of the overdoses.

Hamilton County overdose deaths so far this year are at 157, compared to 177 by the end of May 2018, coroner’s records show.

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Rick McCrabb