May 22nd, 2015 by WCBC Radio
Maryland's health department says the state had a 21 percent increase in fatal drug overdoses in 2014, compared to the previous year. The report released Tuesday says 1,039 people died from overdoses in 2014. That's a 60 percent increase since 2010. About 86 percent of the deaths involved opioids, which include heroin and prescription drugs. Locally, according to statistics, in Allegany County, there were 12 deaths from overdoses in 2014 and in Garrett County there were two deaths. According to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, for the full year of 2013, there were 15 deaths in Allegany County and six in Garrett County from overdoses. Allegany County State’s Attorney Michael Twigg has made a number of public presentations on the growing drug problem recently, describing the current situation as the worst epidemic he has witnessed in his time on the job…
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