Howard County Coroner Steven Seele on Monday released the final tally for overdose deaths in 2017, capping off a harrowing year in the fight against an ongoing and strengthening opioid crisis.
There were six overdose deaths in the year’s fourth quarter, bringing the 2017 year-end total to 44, according to a report distributed by Seele. That final figure makes 2017 by far the deadliest year for overdoses in Howard County history, surpassing the previous high of 34 in 2015.
Two of the six overdoses recorded from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 were caused by opiates, specifically heroin. Methamphetamine was detected in three of the cases, and another was classified as a spice-related death. Alcohol was involved in three of the cases.
The 2017 figures are also a major jump from 2016, when 24 overdose deaths were recorded.
But Seele, coming off his first year as coroner, sees light at the end of the tunnel.
“Even though we have seen a record number of overdose deaths across the nation and locally, I am encouraged with the steps that are taking place at the national and state level to address this crisis,” he said.
“Locally, there have been great strides made over the past several months with the development of the Systems of Care since the drug summit that took place in September of 2017 in Kokomo.”
On Nov. 16, local leaders and community members gathered at Inventrek Technology Park to hear Howard County Commissioner Paul Wyman roll out plans to incorporate multifaceted Systems of Care to combat opioid addiction and substance abuse in local communities.
It's a measure that has been prompted by the deadliest year for overdoses in Howard County history — a crisis impacted by street drugs like heroin, prescription pain medication, stretching back to the Wagoner Medical Clinic, and the increased presence of deadly synthetic drugs.
The event followed up on an opioid summit hosted by Wyman on Sept. 18.
In the following weeks, around 100 people, representing major institutions across the community, created in-depth plans for five distinct subgroups. Each subgroup is represented by a contingent of volunteers tasked with completing a list of long- and short-term goals.
Those groups include mental health and addiction, community support and engagement, prevention and more.
One task is creating an “emergency response team” to point out and recommend routes to treatment immediately following a nonfatal overdose.
Another includes looking at long-term treatment facilities in other communities that include sober living programs, and from there create a plan to recruit and implement a similar program locally.
“I am hopeful as we move forward this next year that we will see a reduction in the deaths due to drug overdose as a result of steps that are being taken,” said Seele on Monday.
Moving forward, though, local officials will combat another enemy: synthetic drugs.
And during a time when many are fixated on prescription drugs and heroin, Seele has attempted to shift the local conversation in part toward synthetic drugs.
“I have a major concern over the increasing use of the synthetic cannabinoids [spice], synthetic cathinones [bath salts], and ‘chemi’ which is short for chemical,” said Seele in a press release in late October announcing third-quarter overdose death statistics.
At least 11 deaths in Howard County last year involved Fentanyl, with a handful of others classified as synthetic-caused overdoses. In addition, spice has been credited by many as becoming the easiest and cheapest drug to find in Kokomo.
“These substances have gained popularity amongst users that are involved with the legal system as a way of preventing a positive urine test,” Seele added. “The user is entering the land of the unknown when abusing these substances, which can result in instant cardiac death.”