Overdose deaths in La Crosse County double

More than 285 thousand needles given away in 2016 through exchange program

They were difficult numbers for the health department to see.

La Crosse County had 25 overdose deaths in 2016, according to data collected by the department. 

Seven of those were from heroin, when it was thought the problem was under control.

“We were down to only one heroin overdose death (in 2015) – a total of right around 12 – but the overall number more than doubled just from last year,” Al Bliss with the dept. said. “So, there’s still a lot of work to do”

Bliss sees some hope for the future.

“Some of the changes that are occurring with the guidelines – the prescribing guidelines – and,” Bliss said, “also the pres drug monitoring program that some significant changes that I think our state and our region … we’re going to see a decline but it’s going to take years to really see that.”

There were 18 overdose deaths in the city of La Crosse last year, 11 of those occurred on the north side.

Ninety people were treated for Hep C, and the average age of people who overdosed was 46 years old.