Drug OD's Causing Many Deaths of Young People in Wisconsin

Thursday, February 16th, 2023 -- 9:01 AM

(Ted Ehlen, WRN) Drug overdoses in Wisconsin are causing a high number of deaths of younger people.

A report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum found that in 2021, though the number of people in the state who died from heart disease, cancer and stroke dropped over the last 20 years, younger people in their prime were more likely to die in the state, especially from opioid and fentanyl overdoses.

Milwaukee County chief health policy advisor Dr. Ben Weston tells Fox 6 Milwaukee the problem is more pronounced with Black Wisconsinites. "Year over year, opioid deaths for African Americans increased at a rate nine times that of whites."

Weston adds the 644 deaths from drug overdoses in Milwaukee County in 2021 was the highest in over two decades of data.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.