5 Fentanyl, Heroin Overdose Deaths In New Lenox Recorded In 2019

NEW LENOX, IL — In 2018, Will County had 82 heroin deaths. During the first five months of 2019, there have been 32 heroin/fentanyl deaths across the county. Statistics continue to show an increase in opioid-related deaths across the state and country.

In 2018, New Lenox and New Lenox Township had eight heroin-related deaths. As of May 14, New Lenox has had five heroin/fentanyl overdose deaths. According to the Will County Coroner’s Office, the overdose deaths were:

• Feb. 5, 2019; 35-year-old white male. Cause of death was fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl and heroin intoxication.
• Feb. 16, 2019; 37-year-old white female. Cause of death was fentanyl and alcohol intoxication.
• March 14, 2019; 22-year-old white male. Cause of death was heroin intoxication.
• March, 27, 2019; 44-year-old white female. Cause of death was fentanyl and butalbital intoxication.
• March 30, 2019; 30-year-old white male. Cause of death was fentanyl, heroin and alcohol intoxication.

New Lenox also had one overdose death that did not involve heroin or fentanyl.

• Jan. 10, 2019; 54-year-old white male. Cause of death was cold exposure, alcohol intoxication and hypertensive cardiovascular disease.

In November, the Will County Sheriff’s Office released a press release about ongoing efforts in fighting the heroin epidemic.

“The growing heroin and opioid epidemic in Will County must be tackled head-on. Overdoses, deaths, and property crimes have increased drastically in recent years right here in Will,” Reilly’s press release stated. “These drugs were nearly nonexistent in our communities ten years ago but are now being found everywhere, including our high schools, on a regular basis. My administration will aggressively target the drug dealers who victimize users and cause the devastating loss of loved ones due to overdose deaths.”

The Will County Coroner’s Office keeps an updated list of 2019 overdose and overdose death statistics.