Milwaukee County: Four more drug deaths last year vs. 2014, but fentanyl deaths up by 500%

MILWAUKEE COUNTY -- Officials with the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office have finalized its statistics relating to drug deaths in the county in 2015 -- and perhaps most startling is the fact that fentanyl deaths have increased by 500 percent.

According to the medical examiner, there were 255 drug deaths in 2015, compared with 251 in 2014 -- so there were just four more drug deaths last year versus the prior year.

Officials say the youngest victim was two years old, and the oldest was 72. The average age of these victims was 42.7 years.

Fentanyl deaths have increased by 500 percent from 2012, and statistics on those deaths are as follows:


    The medical examiner shared the below photo, showing a "typical death scene" investigated by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office:

    "Typical death scene" investigated by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office



    CLICK HERE to learn more about the Wisconsin Department of Justice's "Dose of Reality" campaign, aimed at curbing prescription drug and heroin abuse.