HOWARD COUNTY, Ind. – Fatal drug overdoses could double by the end of the year in Howard County.
In 2016, the county ended the year with 24 fatal drug overdoses and have counted 22 just in the first six months of 2017.
The County Coroner, Steve Seele, said the numbers are expected to rise because many addicts who previously obtained opiates by prescription find that is no longer an option.
"They are turning to the street for illicit drugs to reach the same high,” said Seele. “The problem is, they are playing Russian roulette with a fully loaded gun. They don't know what's in it. They don't know what's in it, and how much they are getting."
Ken Cockrell said he lost two family members, including his nephew, to drug overdoses within the past two years. Cockrell and his 36-year-old nephew Joshua used to work on contracting projects together.
"Every time I go up on a drywall job it's really hard,” said Cockrell. “I got some of his tools in my truck right now. It's hard all the time. It don't go away because we had a funeral, because we cremated him. The pain hurts. Addicts need to wake up - you are not just hurting yourself. You are hurting your loved ones."
Cockrell also lost his brother Allen to drugs in June 2016.
“It's an evil beast that's let upon this earth, upon this nation, and on our town,” he said.
RTV6 reached out to Howard County officials to learn what will be done to counter the growing number, but have not received a response.
RELATED | Howard County on pace for record overdose deaths in 2017 | At least 13 people overdosed in Indianapolis Monday. It was an average day for Indy EMS. | Woman overdoses on Gray Death, a new heroin-like drug | MAP: Indiana drug overdoses by county
