Heroin death rates rise in 2014

The heroin-related death rate for Jefferson County more than doubled in 2014. According Deputy Coroner Bill Yates of the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, there were 129 confirmed heroin deaths last year, compared to 58 in 2013.

Across the county, the number of deaths from heroin overdose has been rising each year since 2010, when there were 12 deaths. The growth between 2013 and 2014 was the largest single increase since that time. 

Yates said Vestavia Hills had seven confirmed heroin deaths this year, and the city neighbors other highly impacted areas. Within the city limits of Birmingham, 55 heroin-related deaths occurred in 2014. Homewood had seven confirmed deaths, and Hoover had between six and 10 fatalities. The Coroner’s Office also lists one death in Mountain Brook.

Yates said heroin is suspected as a contributing factor in other 2014 deaths, so the total may rise as more toxicology reports are completed.

“Those numbers can change until all our cases are closed out,” Yates said.