7 Deaths, 5 Hours: Drug Overdoses Surge in Western New York

The first 911 call came from a city in Western New York, followed by several more from neighboring areas. In less than five hours, seven people died from drug overdoses in Erie County. This pushed the county’s total overdose deaths for the year above 200 and on track to surpass last year’s record of 435. The drug crisis affects all areas of the county, regardless of wealth or demographics. Despite efforts to combat the problem, such as an overdose prevention task force and access to anti-overdose drugs and counseling, the situation persists. Overdose deaths have become unfortunately common across the country.