Pubdate: Fri, 13 Apr 2012 Source: Galesburg Register-Mail (IL) Copyright: 2012 Galesburg Register-Mail Contact: http://www.register-mail.com/news/letters/index.html Website: http://www.galesburg.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3864 Author: Michael Smothers HEROIN PROVES AREA'S DEADLIEST DRUG Peoria, Tazewell counties see drug-related deaths double PEKIN - The number of deaths attributed to drug overdoses in Tazewell and Peoria counties more than doubled over the past two years. Synthetic drugs have captured the area's most recent attention in the ongoing battle against the crime and danger to life posed by illegal drugs. Misused prescription medicines have hit the radar screen. Meth remains a frightening scourge. But among all the poisons and combinations of them that killed 87 people in the two counties in 2010-11, heroin remains the single deadliest. Drug-related fatalities in Tazewell last year were the highest in the past four years and marked a 73 percent increase over 2010, according to the Tazewell County Coroner's office. The 2011 fatality count in Peoria County hit 40, an increase of 23 -- or 135 percent -- over the previous year, according to Peoria County Coroner's office figures. Some deaths recording in Peoria County were of Tazewell County residents taken to a Peoria hospital before their deaths are declared. In all, drug-related deaths in the two counties climbed from 28 to 59 between 2010-2011 -- a 111 percent increase. "That's quite an increase, from a coroner's perspective," Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll said Thursday. "I'd have to analyze the inquests (in the cases) to see if there's a reason" that might explain the spike in drug deaths. While prescription drugs such as methadone have joined cocaine high on the list of death-producing products in the two counties' drug communities, heroin still tops them all, according to statistics kept by the two coroner's offices. That fact stands out in the wake of one apparent fatal overdose in Pekin on Tuesday, and the close call an alleged heroin user had only hours later. Whether drugs played a role in the death of a third man at age 26, also on Tuesday, will be determined by toxicology tests. The number of deaths attributed to heroin or morphine in Peoria County nearly tripled between 2010-2011 -- with a rise from 5 to 13, Ingersoll said. In Tazewell, heroin deaths fell to one from six in 2010. The presence in Peoria of three major hospitals that comprise central Illinois' largest medical community, however, can skew its host county's drug fatality numbers as well as those of surrounding counties, Ingersoll said. "Keep in mind we have people transferred from other counties" whose subsequent deaths are then tallied in Peoria County, she said. Still, the numbers of drug victims pronounced dead at the locations of their demise reveal much about the levels of drugs in a county. The types of drugs that killed them do the same. The number of deaths attributed to drug overdoses in Tazewell and Peoria counties more than doubled over the past two years. Synthetic drugs have captured the area's most recent attention in the ongoing battle against the crime and danger to life posed by illegal drugs. Misused prescription medicines have hit the radar screen. Meth remains a frightening scourge. But among all the poisons and combinations of them that killed 87 people in the two counties in 2010-11, heroin remains the single deadliest. Drug-related fatalities in Tazewell last year were the highest in the past four years and marked a 73 percent increase over 2010, according to the Tazewell County Coroner's office. The 2011 fatality count in Peoria County hit 40, an increase of 23 -- or 135 percent -- over the previous year, according to Peoria County Coroner's office figures. Some deaths recording in Peoria County were of Tazewell County residents taken to a Peoria hospital before their deaths are declared. In all, drug-related deaths in the two counties climbed from 28 to 59 between 2010-2011 -- a 111 percent increase. "That's quite an increase, from a coroner's perspective," Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll said Thursday. "I'd have to analyze the inquests (in the cases) to see if there's a reason" that might explain the spike in drug deaths. While prescription drugs such as methadone have joined cocaine high on the list of death-producing products in the two counties' drug communities, heroin still tops them all, according to statistics kept by the two coroner's offices. That fact stands out in the wake of one apparent fatal overdose in Pekin on Tuesday, and the close call an alleged heroin user had only hours later. Whether drugs played a role in the death of a third man at age 26, also on Tuesday, will be determined by toxicology tests. The number of deaths attributed to heroin or morphine in Peoria County nearly tripled between 2010-2011 -- with a rise from 5 to 13, Ingersoll said. In Tazewell, heroin deaths fell to one from six in 2010. The presence in Peoria of three major hospitals that comprise central Illinois' largest medical community, however, can skew its host county's drug fatality numbers as well as those of surrounding counties, Ingersoll said. "Keep in mind we have people transferred from other counties" whose subsequent deaths are then tallied in Peoria County, she said. Still, the numbers of drug victims pronounced dead at the locations of their demise reveal much about the levels of drugs in a county. The types of drugs that killed them do the same. Tazewell County recorded 19 total drug fatalities in 2011 -- two more than in 2008, and four more than in 2009. Among the drugs found to cause the total of 62 deaths over that four-year span, the grouped category of heroin and morphine was the only one to kill in double digits, with a total of 12 -- or about 19 percent, according to the county coroner's office. In comparison, cocaine accounted for eight and methadone and other opiates for seven each. Many of the deaths were the result of multiple-drug ingestion, according to the office. Toxicology tests will determine what killed Bryan Morse, 25, who was found dead Tuesday night in a Pine Street apartment where a syringe and a bag of white powder also were located. Nathan Dozard, 31, allegedly ingested heroin with his girlfriend in their Cypress Street residence early Wednesday. When he passed out and began to turn blue, his girlfriend called 911 for emergency medical help that may have saved his life. Both face criminal charges in that case.