37 overdose cases eligible for review in 2024
Eduardo Morales
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma County Health Department (YCHD) presented new statistics on local overdoses.
The county says 37 drug overdose cases were eligible for review in 2024, which is three less than the previous year.
Meanwhile, the highest total they have seen in the past four years was in 2021 with 56 cases eligible for review.
These cases do not count people under eighteen years old, people who were pregnant at their time of death, or if the overdose was ruled a suicide.
Ryan Butcher, the Deputy Chief Health Officer for the health department, explains why spreading awareness is important.
“The more awareness we can get out there, where we can direct individuals to seek help…it’s just something more people know about it and where to direct people…We all have a smart part to play in that, and that’s something we can all do,” said Butcher.
Joanne Fiser, the Executive Director of the Yuma County Anti-Drug Coalition, explains how these meetings provide useful information.
“It could be for your family, it could be for your kids, it could be for your grandkids…The information you receive from these coalition meetings is education, and education is power,” Fiser says.
YCHD, the Yuma County Anti-Drug Coalition, and several other local organizations came together to discuss these latest local drug use trends.