Dramatic Drop in Overdose Deaths

Deaths from drug overdoses in St. Charles County dropped by half in 2024, a dramatic development that has emergency responders both pleased and puzzled.

The Regional Medical Examiner's office identified 45 overdose deaths in the county last year, compared to 91 the year before, and 115 at the high-water mark in 2021. That big dip matches a national trend.

A large drop in fentanyl overdoses accounts for most of the decrease. Medical Examiner Dr. Mary Case says one possible reason is narcotic makers may be lacing their products with less fentanyl.

"The best information is coming from DEA agents and from emergency departments. The DEA folks see what is coming in and have noticed that the seized drugs have actually contained lower amounts of fentanyl than before," Case says.

Emergency responders, meanwhile, have suggested that overdose patients may fare better depending on what other drugs are mixed in, Case says. Many overdoses involve a cocktail of substances.

St. Charles County Ambulance District has seen a similar drop in overall calls for opioid overdoses, says Public Information Officer Kyle Gaines. He says the numbers are coming down from a spike during the COVID pandemic, but also many overdoses are going unreported because so many people and even businesses now carry Narcan (naloxone), an over-the-counter treatment for opioid overdose.

"What often happens is the Narcan does its job and 911 is not activated. We really wish they would still call 911," Gaines says, explaining that an opioid can stay in a person's system longer than the Narcan does. Paramedics can also offer medicine to help with withdrawal symptoms, and referrals to addiction treatment programs.

Gaines believes community education about the extreme dangers of opioids, especially education focused on teens, has also made a big difference.

Another factor in reduced overdose deaths may be the ongoing success of St. Charles County's Drug Treatment Court, a program that routes minor drug offenders into rehabilitation services instead of jail. Since its inception in 2000, almost 1,900 people have been helped to get sober after a run-in with the law. Among those who graduate from the program, 83% don't reoffend within the next three years.

"Treatment courts offer a chance for individuals to address substance use issues while learning to navigate a substance-free life within the community," says Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer Bartlett, head of Treatment Courts and Diversion Programs. "Through treatment courts, individuals graduate with more education, jobs, stable housing and transportation, and healthy relationships. Treatment courts save lives."

The St. Charles County Police Crime Lab reports that fentanyl remains the second-most common drug seized by police. About 22% of drugs and paraphernalia tested in 2024 were positive for fentanyl (often mixed with other drugs).

The most common drug seized in St. Charles County is methamphetamine (found in 45% of items seized).