Boone County Coroner Missy Rittinger recently told a group of stakeholders their efforts to reduce the overdose deaths in Boone County have been successful.
Rittinger told Boone County Judge Executive Gary Moore, Sheriff Michael A. Helmig, Florence Police Chief John McDermond, and Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force Director Chris Conners their efforts have accounted for a nearly 16 percent decrease in overdose deaths since 2015, from 57 to 48.
The collaborative team worked hand-in-hand early on in the crisis forming a Quick Response Team and a host of volunteer teams who spent their weekends going door-to-door handing out pamphlets educating Boone County residents on how to get help for those addicted. Quick Response Team personnel followed up on overdoses working with the individuals and families alike to get users into recovery programs.
Recognizing they weren’t going to be 100 percent successful arresting their way out of the crisis, Judge Moore and Sheriff Helmig developed a three-pronged approach to combating the problem; “Jail, Treat & Educate.”
The Sheriff’s Office, the Florence Police, and the Northern Kentucky Strike Force struck hard with 155 drug trafficking cases in 2017 working to get the product off the streets.
Working behind the scenes, first responders, St. Elizabeth Healthcare, and Q.R.T. performed their functions keeping those who did overdose alive and then following up with education and treatment.
In response to the news, Sheriff Helmig said. “Our entire team is encouraged by the reduction in overdose deaths. It’s proof positive we’re on the right track by locking away the dealers and treating the abusers. We will continue our mission to obliterate this menace from Boone County.”
Boone County Sheriff’s office
