The number of deaths in Porter County from drug overdoses and suicides are likely to reach alarming numbers again this year. The county has seen 17 overdose deaths and 19 suicides so far this year.
Half of the people who died had heroin in their systems, in data that comes a day after Porter-Starke services announced signs that a fatal strain of the drug might be circulating through Porter County again.
Coroner Robert Schulte said the past two months have been especially bad, with six people dying from drug overdoses. One, from a week ago Sunday, is still pending toxicology results. The total number of drug deaths this year, 17, means that the county is likely on pace to match and maybe surpass last year's number of 24 overdose deaths. A recent high was 32.
"That's a very disturbing number for Porter County," Schulte said of this year's numbers. "You get into seeing numbers like this in September, and we still have four more months to go."
Schulte said he had not seen any traces of Fentanyl in the people who had heroin in their system. The synthetic drug, normally used as a pain management aid and for anesthesia, is what Porter-Starke officials say they've heard is being mixed with heroin. The mix can be fatal, and already hit the county about five years ago.
He did say that just because he hasn't seen it doesn't mean Fentanyl-laced heroin isn't making another wave through Porter County.
Bob Taylor, Porter County Drug Task Force chief, said he has not seen a change overall in the number of heroin arrests compared to previous years. The county did see several arrests in the past few days, he said, but the number has been steady throughout the year.
All but one who died from a drug overdose were men, and all but one were in their 20s, Schulte said.
The similarities does not hold true for people who committed suicide this year, though. Of the 19 people who have died so far this year, the ages range from 14 to 81 and are a mix of men and women. Schulte said the causes also seem to be varied, including financial stress, relationships, depression and even illness.
A majority of the people had sought out mental health help before, though, he said.
The county saw suicides start to decline in 2008, when it registered just 15. That number more than doubled, though, in 2009 with 35 and has already been surpassed this year.