While California has historically been less impacted by the opioid epidemic than other parts of the country, the number of overdose deaths in the state is expected to continue to increase.

The number of overdose deaths in California by the end of 2018 is expected to have increased by more than 7 percent from 2017, once the data is corroborated by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Most fatal overdoses have been linked to the opioids fentanyl and heroin.

The number of overdose deaths in California in the three years between May 2015 and May 2018 increased by 8.1 percent, from 4,607 to 4,980.

In the Coachella Valley last year, there were clusters of overdose rates that were higher than average. The ZIP codes in Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs and the unincorporated communities bordering Joshua Tree National Park recorded the highest rates of opioid overdose deaths in Riverside County.

The numbers can seem de-personalized when glanced at quickly, but creators of a new map hope to humanize the faces behind the statistics. The Celebrating Lost Loved Ones interactive map asks people to pin their stories to the graphic with a story and photo of the person they lost to a drug overdose. There are just under 2,000 life stories on the site now, but the developer is hoping for more.

There aren’t many stories pinned near the Coachella Valley yet, but scroll in and you’ll find the face of Glen Tyson Alexander, of Riverside, who died when he was 23 in 2010.

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Alexander “had an unforgettable smile, a very funny sense of humor and a way of living life to the fullest,” a post about him said. “He was soft spoken and a good listener.”

He loved the outdoors, skateboarding, bicycling, snowboarding, rock-climbing, fishing and hunting. But riding his motorcycle was his favorite hobby. He had a motorcycle accident in Feb. 2008 and almost lost his right leg. He was hospitalized for a month, during which his body was inundated with pain killers as he underwent five surgeries.

“This is where (Alexander’s) addiction to OxyContin began,” the post said. “(He) spent $50,000 buying OxyContin off the street. When he ran out of money, he tried heroin (cheaper) and it killed him to my shock and horror, I found him dead in his bed.”

Alexander’s story is sadly like many others.

Creator Jeremiah Lindemann of Denver said he hopes the map spreads awareness and helps prevent unnecessary deaths like that of Alexander and even of Lindemann’s own brother. Lindemann created the online mapping resource for people to memorialize their family members or friends who died of an accidental overdose.

“My brother passed away over 10 years ago,” Lindemann said. “I was real quiet and didn’t talk about it for a long time. As it grew in the news, I realized I couldn’t be quiet.”

Lindemann took to social media, asking people to share stories and he got a tremendous response. It began with just people emailing him stories. Later, he created the interactive map. And this year, the National Safety Council reached out to inquire about the map. He offered the map to the agency, but still reviews and approves submissions and promotes it.

The map was a natural path of grieving for Lindemann, who is a solutions engineer at a software company that does mapping. But in addition to memorializing his brother, he wanted to break the stigma of addiction, too.

“I just wanted people to listen,” Lindemann said. “Human compassion is needed for results … the map certainly helps with that.”

How to add your loved one’s story to the map:

Go to NSC Memorial Site – Celebrating Lost Loved Ones at www.memorial.nsc.org.

From your computer: Click the blue button that says “Add Lost Loved One.”

From your phone: Click the button “Participate” at the bottom of the browser.

A screen pops up. Choose “Continue as Guest.” The next screen allows you to upload a photo, title/name of the person, pick a location on the map and write a story of up to 200 words.

When finished, click “Accept Terms and Submit.”  Within three days, your submission will be reviewed and added to the map.

Information from The Cincinnati Enquirer was used in this report

Desert Sun reporter Nicole Hayden covers health and healthcare in the Coachella Valley. She can be reached at Nicole.Hayden@desertsun.com or (760) 778-4623. Follow her on Twitter @Nicole_A_Hayden. 

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