Medical Examiner: 72 overdose deaths so far this year in Milwaukee County, 57 were opiate-related

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office revealed on Tuesday, April 18th that there have been 72 overdose deaths so far this year in Milwaukee County -- and 57 of those deaths were opiate-related.

There were 343 overall drug deaths -- with 148 heroin-related and 97 fentanyl-related deaths in 2016. The 97 deaths related to fentanyl is an increase of 223 percent from 2015.



The 148 heroin deaths in Milwaukee County in 2016 is a 35 percent increase from 2015, when there were 110 heroin deaths.

In 2015, 255 people died as a result of drug overdoses.

This epidemic is being taken up by a task force in Milwaukee -- made up of city leaders, heath officials and community organizers.