Pubdate: Thu, 08 Jun 2000 Source: Chicago Tribune (IL) Copyright: 2000 Chicago Tribune Company Contact: 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611-4066 Website: http://www.chicagotribune.com/ Forum: http://www.chicagotribune.com/interact/boards/ Author: Art Barnum Note: Other stories parts of this column not related to drug policy have been deleted. CORONER ALARMED BY RISE IN DUPAGE OVERDOSE DEATHS A record number of accidental deaths in DuPage County in 1999 due to drug overdoses underscores the increasing popularity and easy access to Ecstasy and other potentially deadly drugs, according to the DuPage County coroner's annual report. "Those drug overdoses instantly jumped out at me," said Coroner Richard Ballinger. "This is an ongoing tragedy, and it has to be attacked by all sides." According to the report, there were 86 accidental deaths last year, 31 due to drug overdoses. Those 31 deaths are more than twice the number in 1998, when 15 people died of accidental drug overdoses. Ballinger said he has been invited over the past year to more than 30 schools to give his perspective on the problem. "There is a myth out there ... that each kid believes it won't be him who is killed or hurt by doing something stupid, like taking Ecstasy or a look-alike," Ballinger said. The number of accidental deaths last year is the highest in the past decade, more than 20 greater than the 63 posted in both 1996 and 1997. The second-largest cause of accidental deaths--falls--has remained constant in the low 20s. "I know we can successfully attack this problem, and most of our county, state and local officials already have started to work on the problem," Ballinger said. "Several years ago, we had a major problem with adolescent traffic deaths, and with help from many programs, we have cut that number of fatalities close to half." The office handled 3,719 cases in 1999. Most of those cases were returned to medical professionals to handle, and most of the rest were classified natural. In the 1,166 death investigations handled by the office, heart disease was the leading cause of death, cited in 541 cases; cancer was second with 356. The third leading cause, pulmonary disease, was third at 37. The number of motor vehicle deaths in 1999 was 57, the same number as in 1998. Suicides in DuPage County increased to 67 last year from 61 in 1998. The 1999 number was the third highest ever, behind 77 in 1989 and 70 in 1995. Last year, six of the suicides were by teenagers or children. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk