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OD deaths at record pace in La Crosse County

Published

5 years ago

May 31, 2020

The year isn’t even halfway over, but overdose deaths in La Crosse County are occurring at a record pace, according to medical examiner Tim Candahl.

Candahl says 12 people have died of overdoses in the first five months of 2020, with six more overdoses being examined, compared to the county record of 28 set during all of 2017.

, and in six cases, both fentanyl and meth were present.

For all of last year, there were 22 overdose deaths.

La Crosse County began a Heroin Task Force several years ago after another series of overdose deaths.

That group has become the Alliance to HEAL.

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.