Overdose deaths in La Crosse County show sharp decline, a year after a local record was set

After a record-setting year for overdose-related deaths in La Crosse County during 2023, the county says the trend is now going in the other direction.

La Crosse County chief medical examiner Beth Lubinski says the tentative number of drug overdose deaths for the county is now at 26 for this year, compared to a record 55 for all of last year.

Lubinski says she hasn’t found an exact reason why the deaths would be sharply lower from a year ago. She does indicate that fewer of the overdoses reported in 2024 showed signs of fentanyl use.

“This year, we’ve seen a lot of methamphetamine,” says Lubinski. “Out of the 26 overdose deaths, we’ve only had 10 with fentanyl, which has been a slight decrease compared to the previous years where almost everyone had fentanyl.”

Lubinski says health care officials have been urging people to be careful, to not use drugs when they are alone, along with other tips. “Make sure you’re with someone, if you are using, to have Narcan available,” she says. “If you see someone that might have an emergency, to call 911 for help.”

Lubinski says Narcan is readily available for use locally to reverse overdoses on opioid drugs.