'1st Significant Downturn' In Overdoses In DuPage County: Coroner

DUPAGE COUNTY — In 2023, drug overdose deaths decreased by 24 percent compared to 2022, a "significant downturn" that Coroner Richard Jorgensen attributes, in part, to ongoing outreach, education and awareness initiatives throughout the county.

In his report of the 2023 Drug Overdose Statistics, Jorgensen shared, “Though one year's statistics does not predict the future, this significant decrease in overdose related deaths is the first positive turn since we began collecting data in 2012. Many people have worked tirelessly to fight this epidemic, and this decrease may be the result of the years of united efforts and resources dedicated to combating this crisis.”

Below, you'll find DuPage County's overdose statistics for 2023 and 2022.

Jorgensen added that of the Fentanyl overdoses in 2023, 80 specimens were fentanyl analogs with one to four isomers.

According to the 2023 overdose statistics, deaths due to overdose have trended older than in the past. In 2013, most overdose deaths in DuPage County were individuals in their 20s and 30s, whereas in 2023, the average age of overdose deaths was attributed to residents in their 30s and 40s.

Related: 'Commonplace To Find Up To 15 Drugs:' DuPage 2022 Overdose Statistics

Jorgensen credit the decrease in overdose deaths, in part, to the following initiatives since 2013:

• Outreach programs
• Heroin Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Task Force
• DuPage Narcan program
• HOPE DuPage website
• DuPage County Jail focusing on rehabilitation, treatment
• Drug Court and FOCUS Court in DuPage County
• Community organizations

In his report, Jorgensen states, "Though the reduced number of overdose deaths in 2023 is positive, the epidemic of opioid and other legal and illegal drugs continues to ravage our county and the types of drugs found in blood of the deceased remain similar to the previous two years. The raw data shows most drugs and classes of drugs in the same percentage of use. We are able to identify this level of data because we use the most sophisticated and extensive level of toxicology testing. This level of investigation affords the utmost confidence in our data."