Drug overdose deaths continue to be a significant occurrence in St. John Parish with the majority of cases involving illegal opiate drugs such as heroin and fentanyl.

Statistics from 2015 show there were three overdose deaths from opiates, while the number climbed to six deaths in 2016.

2017 showed an increase to nine deaths, while 2018 showed a decline to seven deaths. However, there was an uptick in overdose deaths from methamphetamine (crystal meth) in 2017 and 2018.

Overall, the deaths due to overdoses from illegal drugs climbed to 10 in 2017 and 11 in 2018.

Opiate drugs have received the vast amount of attention by the media and government agencies, and because of this, legitimate doctor prescriptions of opiates has declined roughly 22 percent during this time.

However, illegal street drugs such as heroin, fentanyl and crystal meth continue to be used by the public in increasing numbers, which is being confirmed by autopsy statistics.

The sources of these drugs are mainly from illegal smuggling from Mexico and China and through illegal sales on the internet with delivery through the mail system.

Other statistics show that of the 19 deaths involving homicides or fatal accidents since 2016, 18 (or 94 percent) of the victims had illegal drugs or excessive alcohol levels in their blood at autopsy.

Of note is that roughly one third of these victims also had marijuana in their systems.

Therefore the vast majority of deaths involving homicides or accidental injuries are associated with use of illegal drugs or excessive alcohol.

In summary, overdose deaths involving illegal drugs in St. John Parish have climbed dramatically in the past two years, and we are already investigating three homicide deaths so far in 2019.

Illegal opiate use involving fentanyl and heroin has leveled off somewhat, but increasing use of methamphetamine and continuing abuse of alcohol combine to steadily increase these types of deaths in our parish.

Christy A. Montegut, M.D., is the elected coroner for St. John the Baptist Parish. For more information, call 985-652-3344.