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Heroin-related deaths rising in Butler County

Posted at 9:20 AM, Dec 07, 2015
and last updated 2015-12-07 09:20:18-05

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio -- The number of deaths linked to heroin overdoses in the region is rising and has already outpaced previous years in some cases.

The Journal-News reports that there have been 107 heroin-related deaths in the first nine months of 2015. Officials said there have been 136 total drug overdoses.

COMPLETE COVERAGE: Heroin in the Tri-State

The Butler County Coroner reported that there were 76 deaths during the same time period last year.

The coroner told the Journal-News that they expect about 143 deaths in the county if the current rate does not decrease -- a 39 percent increase.

For more on this story, and to hear one woman’s story of survival, click here for The Journal-News.