(La Porte County, IN) - Drug overdose deaths in La Porte County have dropped significantly in recent years.

La Porte County Coroner Lynn Swanson said 14 people have died from drug use, so far, this year.  That’s down from 22 overdose deaths last year and the two previous years when the number was in the low 30’s.

Swanson feels one factor is the anti-drug programs in the local schools.

“I definitely think that’s having an impact on at least the overdose deaths,” she said.

The number of deaths are going down at a time when the federal government is reporting fewer overdose fatalities nationwide since the flow of drugs in the country has slowed since the southern border was made more secure.

Swanson said the number of overdose deaths in recent years would likely be higher if not for Narcan, which reverses the effects of heroin and other opioids.