Accidental drug overdose deaths in La Crosse County up 45% in 2023

LA CROSSE (WKBT) -- Overdose deaths in La Crosse County increased by 45% in 2023 compared to the previous year.

That's according to the county health department's annual Overdose Fatality Review (OFR) released Tuesday, showing that lives lost to accidental overdose deaths continues to increase.

55 people died from a drug overdose in 2023. Synthetic opioids like fentanyl were involved in 85% of those deaths.

Three-quarters of those who died from an overdose had more than one substance in their system at the time of death.

The deaths were most common among those age 25-64. 75% of them had permanent, stable housing.

The county health department's OFR team made recommendations of how to prevent overdose deaths falling under four overarching themes:

• Reduce stigma
• Understand harm reduction
• Increase bystander response
• Foster community connections

Read the county's full detailed annual OFR report by clicking or tapping here.

​COPYRIGHT 2024 BY NEWS 8 NOW/NEWS 8000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.