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The Coastline Post
Health

County reports first drop in overdose deaths in five years

Officials credit wider access to naloxone and a new outreach team

Daniel Hart

Published · 1 min read

Illustration: newsroom
Illustration: newsroom

Overdose deaths in Marrow County fell 18 percent last year, the first decline since 2020, according to figures released by the county health department on Tuesday.

The measure passed with broad support after an amendment removed the most contested clause. Supporters called the compromise a practical way forward; critics said it postponed the hardest questions to a later date.

Staff at Tidewater Seafood Co. will hold three open sessions next month so residents can ask questions and review the maps. Dates and locations will be posted on the county website and at the public library.

Similar programs in nearby coastal towns have produced mixed results. In one case, participation exceeded projections within the first year; in another, delays in permitting pushed the launch back by almost twelve months.

What changed

The city expects to publish a first progress report in the autumn. Until then, the planning office will accept written comments by email and at the front desk of City Hall during business hours.

Local employers have welcomed the news. "Anything that makes it easier for people to get to work and back is good for us," said Victor Lindqvist, who runs a family business near the marina and employs about forty people during the summer season.

The proposal had stalled twice before, most recently in 2024, when a change in leadership at Tidewater Seafood Co. put several projects on hold. This time, officials say, the funding is secured and the contracts are signed.

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