The Winnebago County Health Department has announced a recent rise in suspected overdose deaths.
This rise has been reported over the last three weeks and falls in line with data put out earlier this year by the county’s Overdose Fatality Review.
This data revealed that there were 47 overdose deaths in the county in 2023, the most on record for any year and ten more than the year prior.
Of those 47 deaths, 28 occurred in the city of Oshkosh and 31 listed fentanyl as the primary cause.
With this spike in overdose deaths, the Winnebago County Health Department urges community members to know the signs of an overdose.
They also offer Narcan, Lifepoint Syringe Service, and test strips for fentanyl free of charge at their Oshkosh Location at 112 Otter Avenue which could save the life of someone experiencing an overdose or prevent one from ever occurring.
More information on the Health Department’s data on overdose fatalities can be found online at co.winnebago.wi.us/health.
