FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Fond du Lac Fire/Rescue saw a record number of suspected opioid overdose deaths last year.
“We see just an incredible number of opioid overdose deaths. We had maybe just one over three days we were administering Narcan for one reason or another, but to have 17 deaths, the most we ever had was like eight in a year so it should be no surprise to people that it alarmed us,” Fond du Lac Fire/Rescue Fire Chief Peter O’Leary said.
Chief O’Leary tells FOX 11 the pandemic could be a factor.
“We believe that there’s a lot of people out there that they’re in trouble. This pandemic is even having a tougher time for anybody that ever were to use any opioid like heroin. They had to be living in despair. We wanted to make sure that the community understood that the drug problem with people who are experiencing the needs to be addicted to drugs like that are off the charts this last year.”
This isn’t just happening within the city.
Fond du Lac County Sheriff says these incidents are occurring county-wide, even some occurring within the jail.
“Last year we had three overdoses, heroin overdoses, that occurred inside our jail with inmates that smuggle it in,” Fond du Lac County Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt said.
The jail recently incorporated a body scanner to monitor incoming inmates.
“We can see images if they’ve got drugs or weapons or other contraband on them that we don’t want into the jail,” Sheriff Waldschmidt said.
Waldschmidt tells FOX 11 the county had 16 verified heroin overdoses and five deaths.
“It’s happening everywhere too. I think that’s important to note.”
“People that are suffering from mental illness or drug addiction, there are a lot of things they can do, a lot of places they can go and you’re not alone. The fire department, the paramedics, we’re here to help you,” Chief O’Leary said.
Sheriff Waldschmidt says his deputies carry Narcan in their squad cars as well.
That medication can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
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