Preliminary Trumbull County statistics confirm that more people died from accidental drug overdoses in 2015 than ever before.

Staff report

WARREN

Preliminary Trumbull County statistics confirm that more people died from accidental drug overdoses in 2015 than ever before.

There were 86 drug overdose deaths through Dec. 8, an increase of 27 over 2014 when there were 59. It is an increase of 22 over 2007, when there were 64, the previously highest number, the Trumbull County Coroner’s office reports.

Shelley Mazanetz, chief investigator for Coroner Dr. Humphrey Germaniuk, said toxicology results are still pending for several more probable overdose deaths during the final three weeks of the year.

At an opiate summit in Howland in April, Dr. Germaniuk said total overdose deaths in 2015 could soar past 100 at the rate they were occurring during the early part of the year. But the rate slowed a little in the second half of the year.

Warren had the highest percentage of the deaths, with 33 taking place in the city and another 13 in one Warren’s two hospitals.

Howland is second with 11, followed by Niles with eight and Liberty with five, Girard with three and Hubbard Township and Fowler Township with two apiece. All other locations had one or none.