The City of Milwaukee, along with local officials, will be hosting a press conference Tuesday after 17 people in Milwaukee County died from an overdose since Saturday.
According to a media alert from the city, the 17 deaths reported since Saturday may be the sign of a possible "bad batch." The average age of the overdose victims is 50 years old. Dr. Ben Weston, Milwaukee County Chief Health Policy Advisor, said during a press conference Tuesday that at least four of them were among the homeless population.
The city said 14 of the overdoses were in Milwaukee, one was in West Allis, and one was in South Milwaukee. "With one death every 16 hours, the overdose epidemic has become a public health crisis," a press release from the city states. To address the growing crisis, the Milwaukee Fire Department, West Allis Fire Department, South Milwaukee Fire Department, and all city and county agencies came together to urge the community to "take note of the dangers of opioid use and to take preventative measures."