10-5-2018
BELLINGHAM, Wash. — New data shows the rate of opioid overdoses in Whatcom County is below average.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture launched an interactive community assessment tool to help community leaders build data-driven strategies to address the opioid epidemic.
Their interactive map allows users to see opioid and other drug overdose data along with socioeconomic information like race and poverty rate across most counties in the country.
Opioid overdoses in Whatcom County are lower than both the state and national average, while Skagit and Island Counties are higher.
They calculate opioid overdose deaths based on how many people age 15-64 out of 100,000 died from 2012-2016. The nation’s mortality rate was 14.1, Washington State’s was 13.3, Whatcom was at 10.9, with Island at 15.9, and Skagit at 17.9.
The tool also calculates general drug overdose deaths as well.