Overdose Deaths Spike in Broome County

Heroin overdose deaths in Broome County are up substantially for the year.

Broome County District Attorney Steven Cornwell says 76 people have died from overdose, most from heroin use, about fifty percent more than last year.

Cornwell says new initiatives launched this year aimed at prevention and getting people treatment for addiction hold promise for reducing the numbers.

Cornwell says a huge spike in overdoses was reported in August and that may be the result of drugs appearing in the area that had been cut with deadly additives like fentanyl.

Earlier this year, county officials could not say how many people were dying as a result of drug overdose.