For Immediate Release
July 1, 2024
Health Department, Coroner’s Office Create Quarterly Report for Overdoses Deaths in Marion County
INDIANAPOLIS – For the first time ever, a quarterly report for suspected overdose deaths in Marion County is being released in coordination between the Marion County Public Health Department and the Marion County Coroner’s Office (MCCO).
The goal of this report is to provide more timely statistics regarding suspected overdose deaths in Marion County to the public and to those focused on lowering the number of overdose deaths through prevention or harm reduction efforts.
The key points for the first quarter of 2024 (January through March) are:
- In Q1 2024, MCCO investigated 134 suspected overdose deaths, which is a 28% decrease from Q1 2023.
- The top five most commons substances found in the toxicology results were fentanyl (74%), methamphetamine (33%), cocaine (32%), acetyl fentanyl (28%)
and ethanol/alcohol (20%).
This report is made possible through a grant funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) called Overdose Data to Action: Limiting Overdose through Collaborative Actions in Localities (OD2A: LOCAL).
“We need healthcare providers and the public to better understand not only the rate of overdose deaths in Marion County, but the substances that are contributing to these deaths,” said Virginia A. Caine, M.D., director and chief medical officer of the Marion County Public Health Department. “The more we know, the better we can all work toward reducing the number of overdose deaths and protecting public health.”
“This collaboration is crucial in addressing the overdose crisis in our community,” said Alfie McGinty, chief deputy coroner with the Marion County Coroner’s Office. “By working together and sharing data promptly, we can better support prevention and harm reduction efforts, ultimately saving more lives. It exemplifies our commitment to combating the overdose epidemic with a united front in Marion County.”
The full report for the first quarter of 2024 is available by clicking here or through a link at MarionHealth.org/od2a.
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