Macomb County experienced a 33 percent jump in drug deaths last year,
with heroin and prescription medications playing a deadly role.
with heroin and prescription medications playing a deadly role.
That’s according to a report released on Friday by county Medical
Examiner Dr. Daniel Spitz that outlines causes of death in Macomb for
2013.
Examiner Dr. Daniel Spitz that outlines causes of death in Macomb for
2013.
“From the standpoint of prevention, heroin is certainly one that
needs some attention,” Spitz said at a press conference held at the
county morgue.
needs some attention,” Spitz said at a press conference held at the
county morgue.
Heroin deaths increased by 28 percent last year to 95 and prescription drug deaths rose by a similar percentage to 105.
As The Macomb Daily reported last month, the county leads the state
in heroin deaths, with many of those who supply the relatively cheap
opiate drugs traveling up Gratiot Avenue from Detroit by bus or car to
make their sales in Macomb County.
in heroin deaths, with many of those who supply the relatively cheap
opiate drugs traveling up Gratiot Avenue from Detroit by bus or car to
make their sales in Macomb County.
The majority of those who die from heroin overdoses, the medical
examiner said, are male and range in age from 25 to 50, though some are
high school students.
examiner said, are male and range in age from 25 to 50, though some are
high school students.
The 2014 trends through mid-March are not encouraging. Drug deaths,
including those from heroin, are on a path toward an all-time high for
the county.
“We’re starting to see Ecstacy deaths,” Spitz added. “The … last
(three or four) months I think we’ve had four, which is a lot when we
haven’t had any for many, many months.”
Spitz’s expanded annual report is an attempt by the administration of
County Executive Mark Hackel to provide a more collaborative, holistic
response toward deaths in Macomb County.
County Executive Mark Hackel to provide a more collaborative, holistic
response toward deaths in Macomb County.
Beyond the deceased who were crime victims, officials say several
government agencies can sharpen their focus by reviewing the medical
examiner’s findings: the Health Department, Community Mental Health
Department, Senior Services Office, and K-12 school districts.
government agencies can sharpen their focus by reviewing the medical
examiner’s findings: the Health Department, Community Mental Health
Department, Senior Services Office, and K-12 school districts.
“The data shows the social trends that can ultimately help the living,” the doctor said.
Among the key findings in the report:
* Total number of deaths in Macomb County reached an all-time high,
8,246, which was largely due to an aging population that is staying in
place rather than moving out of state.
8,246, which was largely due to an aging population that is staying in
place rather than moving out of state.
* Number of death investigations by the Medical Examiner’s Office also
hit a record level, 2,122, which was a 10 percent increase from 2012.
hit a record level, 2,122, which was a 10 percent increase from 2012.
* Home deaths of seniors in hospice care rose 10 percent and now
account for one-fourth of all forensic examinations by the coroner’s
staff.
account for one-fourth of all forensic examinations by the coroner’s
staff.
* Forensic examinations jumped 13 percent, with 531 completed
autopsies, 29 limited autopsies that focus on one portion of the body,
and 88 external examinations, which amount to an inspection of a body.
autopsies, 29 limited autopsies that focus on one portion of the body,
and 88 external examinations, which amount to an inspection of a body.
* Suicides rose 22 percent, though no long-term pattern has developed in that category.
* Cremations increased for the 10th consecutive year and now account
for nearly 50 percent of the final dispositions in all county deaths.
for nearly 50 percent of the final dispositions in all county deaths.
Friday’s press conference seemed to signal a new approach by Spitz,
who has often been criticized for being uncooperative with reporters in
the past. He gave a detailed presentation to the media on hand and then
answered numerous questions.
Spitz also tangled with the county Board of Commissioners from
2011-13, rankling the commissioners by refusing to appear before them to
address their concerns. But he smoothed over those divisions last fall
and the doctor will appear before the board’s Health and Human Services
Committee on Monday to present the medical examiner’s 2013 statistics.
2011-13, rankling the commissioners by refusing to appear before them to
address their concerns. But he smoothed over those divisions last fall
and the doctor will appear before the board’s Health and Human Services
Committee on Monday to present the medical examiner’s 2013 statistics.
Spitz told the media that the morgue is nearing national
accreditation, a status that less than 10 percent of the country’s
medical examiner’s offices have achieved. Six of his eight forensic
investigators and supervisory staff have already obtained professional
certification.
Assistant County Executive Al Lorenzo said the 2013 report presents a
“different twist” on the routine presentations of numbers and charts.
“different twist” on the routine presentations of numbers and charts.
“The report shows us figures for death and dying in our county,”
Lorenzo said, “and those stats are a vital insight into the changes
taking place within a social context.”
