You expect major overdose deaths in places with high populations that sit at major international crossroads — Los Angeles, New York, various Texas border cities.
But in Wyoming? Middle-of-nowhere Wyoming?
The Natrona County coroner says 2024 is shaping up to be a 'crazy year' for unnatural deaths, with suicides through the first four months of the year on a record-shattering pace.
Coroner Jim Whipps told county commissioners Tuesday that the instances of unnatural deaths in the county 'is going way up.'
'This has been a different kind of year,' he said. 'It kind of started last fall, but case count is going way up on unnatural deaths.'
Part of the problem is high rates of suicides; but the other is that overdoses with "illicit drugs" are spiking "through the roof," according to the coroner.
The opioid crisis comes for everyone eventually, folks.
Remember: Drug ODs have been sky-high for years at this point.
CDC data indicate that, though U.S. overdose deaths have somewhat plateaued in recent years, they're still at near-record levels.
So that somewhat tracks, as bad as it is. The suicide rate, however, may be the more pressing issue — and it's considerably more baffling:
'Our county suicide rate by percentage of population is within the top realm, top four in the world,' he said. 'Even third-world countries and places in total chaos don't have the suicide rate that we have in this county in the middle of Wyoming.'
In his five years as coroner, Whipps said he has investigated eight adolescent suicides, none so far this year. But he said there have been suicides this year of young people in their 20s and 30s.
So why the high rates? According to Whipps, there are readily identifiable crisis signs for young people who may be at risk for suicide, but "it looks as though there is a lot of turning the heads, hiding the heads in the sand, passing the buck, and dragging the feet from school district, the board" in addressing those signs.
As awful as it is, Whipps isn't giving up:
I am heavily involved in prevention efforts to try and get into the weeds with suicides and overdoses. I am working with the drug task force and the suicide prevention task force and some of those things to try and get a handle on this.
That's a true American public servant and a civic hero right there.
But he didn't mince words:
The bottom line is it feels like it is going to be a crazy year.
Prayers for Natrona County, and for everywhere dealing with this crisis.
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