CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- More people died from fentanyl overdoses in Cook County last year than from homicide.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office reports 789 people died from fentanyl toxicity, compared to 580 people killed by guns.
“I have to say I’m not shocked by it," said Dan Hostetler, executive director of the Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center, at 2942 W. Lake St. in East Garfield Park.
Hostetler told CBS 2 there were three overdose deaths last weekend.
“We lost three people last weekend – in one weekend – to overdoses,” Hostetler said. “They evidently got something off the street, that didn’t… was toxic!”
Activist Rev. Robin Hood was asked who should be targeted.
“The open market, in the streets of Chicago,” Hood replied. “With that many people dying, that’s nothing but mass murder. That’s nothing different than a mass killer.”
In 2016, there were 560 deaths from fentanyl toxicity. In 2017, there were 669. In 2018, there were 847.
The use of narcan may be one of the reasons why there were 58 fewer fentanyl overdoses in 2019.
The Medical Examiner’s office said it is important to note that the 2019 numbers are preliminary. The office is still awaiting the results for 527 cases.