Pubdate: Thu, 28 Dec 2006
Source: Times-Standard (Eureka, CA)
Copyright: 2006 MediaNews Group, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.times-standard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1051
Author: Sara Watson Arthurs

DRUG OVERDOSE RECORD FEARED

Meth Deaths on the Rise, 2006 Statistics Show

Humboldt County is poised to tie a grim statistic: the  record set in 
2003 for drug overdose deaths.

That year, there were 50 deaths, 18 times the national  average of 
2.2 per 100,000 population.

With a few days left in 2006, there are 46 confirmed  drug overdose 
deaths in the county this year, said  Humboldt County Coroner Frank 
Jager on Wednesday.

"But that's not the whole story," he said. Another  three or four 
possible overdoses are still awaiting  toxicology screening, he said. 
So the total could be  around 49.

Historically, prescription drugs and heroin have made  up a large 
amount of the county drug overdose deaths.  This year, 
methamphetamine is causing more deaths than  in years past, Jager said.

Sixteen county residents have died of methamphetamine  overdoses this 
year, he said. Normally there are only  three or four methamphetamine 
overdose deaths a year.

"We've never had as many as we've had this year ....  Meth is just 
really tearing us up as a community," he  said. "I don't know what 
we're going to do about it."

Last year, 36 county residents died of drug overdoses.

Suicide is another cause of death in which Humboldt County leads the state.

There have been 20 suicides in the county in 2006,  Jager said.
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