How opioid use has impacted overdose deaths in Bexar County in 2014-15

Heroin overdose deaths increase from 2014 to 2015

SAN ANTONIO – The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office releases an annual report that details the manner of death in all cases the office investigates.

For the purpose of this report, KSAT.com investigated overdose deaths in Bexar County in 2014 and 2015. 

Here are some of those results. (Note: All information provided by the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office. Click here for the 2014 report and here for the 2015 report.)

2014:

— 89 percent of all overdose deaths were accidental 

— 9 percent of all overdose deaths were by suicide 

— 3 percent were accidental 

Intoxication deaths by drugs present (All overdose deaths):

— 21 percent mixed drug 

— 18 percent prescription opiate/opioid medications 

— 17 percent cocaine  

— 16 percent heroin 

— 13 percent methamphetamine  

— All others below 10 percent

Note: More than one third (34 percent) of all overdose deaths were related to prescription opiate/opioid medications and heroin.

2015:

— 89 percent of all overdose deaths were accidental 

— 7 percent of all overdose deaths were suicide 

— 4 percent of all overdose deaths undetermined

Intoxication deaths by drugs present (All overdose deaths):

— 21 percent heroin 

— 15 percent cocaine, heroin and/or methamphetamine  

— 15 percent mixed drug  

— 14 percent cocaine  

— 12 percent methamphetamine  

— 11 percent prescription opiate/opioid medications 

Note: Nearly half (47 percent) of all overdose deaths were related to heroin, prescription opiate/opioid medications and a mix of cocaine, heroin and/or methamphetamine. 


About the Authors:

RJ Marquez is the traffic anchor/reporter for KSAT’s Good Morning San Antonio. He also fills in as a news anchor and has covered stories from breaking news and Fiesta to Spurs championships and high school sports. RJ started at KSAT in 2010. He is proud to serve our viewers and be a part of the culture and community that makes San Antonio great.