Cook County saw record number of fatal opioid overdoses last year: officials

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) – Cook County saw a record number of fatal overdoses from opioids last year, with most of the deaths related to fentanyl, officials said.

There were 2,000 opioid overdose deaths in 2022, breaking the previous record of 1,935 set in 2021, according to Cook County Medical Examiner's Office numbers released by county government.

More than 91% of the opioid overdose deaths involve fentanyl, a synthetic painkilling drug that is more potent than heroin and morphine.

U.S. border officials seize almost 900,000 fentanyl pills worth $2.5M hidden in two porcelain sinks

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