07/13/2020- Individuals from several different sectors of the community are coming together to assess and help prevent overdose deaths in Marinette County. The County was the recent recipient of grant funding that will help establish an Overdose Fatality Review Team. More than a dozen community partners representing law enforcement, first responders, health and human services, and healthcare have indicated their interest in participating on the new task force to help curb the impact drug abuse is having in our region. Marinette County Public Health Officer Molly Bonjean says part of their work will involve analyzing who is most commonly overdosing and which drugs are to blame.

Bonjean adds while overdose deaths are the most severe results of drug use, the issue as a whole still warrants more attention locally.

According to data provided by the Wisconsin DHS, Marinette County had 6 opioid-related deaths in 2019 and more than 900 were recorded statewide.