Medical examiner investigates eight probable heroin deaths in last four days

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office is investigating eight probable heroin deaths that occurred between last Wednesday, July 27th and Sunday, July 31st.

It was just a few weeks ago that leaders in Milwaukee gathered to unveil a number of ways to prevent overdoses -- and overcome Milwaukee's opioid addiction crisis. That event was part of the DEA 360 Strategy, an effort to combat the abuse of narcotics through partnerships with law enforcement, doctors and the community.

Within the past decade, the number of people who have died from drug-related overdoses has risen 500 percent. Since 2012, the epidemic has claimed 888 lives.

Milwaukee Alderman Michael Murphy indicated in June that locally, outreach work needs to broaden -- the average victim is a 43-year-old white male or female.

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