(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- International Overdose Awareness Day was recognized last week. Now, a new public dashboard has been launched with data on unintentional, fatal drug overdoses in Illinois.
Northwestern University scientists said the dashboard has the most comprehensive data on unintentional fatal drug overdoses in Illinois and provides what they're calling a 10,000- foot view of how the illicit drug market has changed in the state.
Some of the more alarming trends The dashboard has captured include a significant increase in older adults 55- 64 years old 473 deaths in 2019, and up to 729 in 2021.
About 80% are opioid related, but there's an increasing load of cocaine- involved deaths as well. The number of cases with cocaine as a cause of death has gone up from 832 in 2019 to more than 1,100 in 2021 in Illinois counties with 30 or more annual drug overdose deaths.
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