2019 was Milwaukee County’s deadliest year for drug-related deaths.
The Medical Examiner’s Office reports 418 people died last year due to drug use, surpassing the previous record of 401 in 2017.
Comparing the numbers to 2018, total drug deaths were up nearly 9-percent, with narcotic deaths seeing a 12.45-percent increase.
Heroin related deaths saw a decline of roughly 9-percent, but deaths connected to fentanyl use was up roughly 30-percent, and cocaine-related deaths up nearly 10-percent.
Total number of drug-related deaths in Milwaukee County:
2019 Deaths:
– Total drug death: 418 (the highest total recorded – previous record of 401 in 2017)
– Narcotic death: 343
– Heroin-related death: 133
– Fentanyl alone or in combination: 244
– Cocaine alone or in combination: 181
2018 Deaths:
– Total drug death: 384
– Narcotic death: 305
– Heroin-related death: 146
– Fentanyl alone or in combination: 188
– Cocaine alone or in combination: 165