A state map of overdose deaths, according to the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics

Increases in opioid overdoses and deaths has many in Mississippi searching for solutions to prevent the high numbers of casualties and skyrocketing costs seen in other opioid-inflicted states. In response, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics has announced a new initiative to try to prevent the trafficking of these drugs.

According to The Associated Press, MBN will now send officials to respond to the scene of every suspected overdose in the state to assist coroners and medical examiners in reporting deaths by opioid overdose. 

Lauderdale County Coroner Clayton Cobler, however, had some questions regarding the new policy.

“What constitutes a suspected overdose,” Cobler asked? Cobler and other coroners in previous articles have said that sometimes overdoses are difficult to identify until toxicology reports come back from the State Crime Lab. 

“MBN has always responded when I call,” Cobler said about the current policy. Mississippi law requires coroners to report suspected overdoses within 24 hours.

It is unclear how officials with the MBN will be notified of of suspected overdoses or who will determine that suspicious deaths could be suspected overdoses. 

An email to MBN Friday morning went unanswered.

MBN has an online overdose reporting form available to coroners, which previously was delivered via fax. MBN told The Associated Press it hoped online reporting would be faster and simpler but some coroners, especially those in rural counties, may not have access to reliable internet.  

MBN Director John Dowdy told The Associated Press he hopes the more dogged overdose investigations will help the Bureau crack down on deadly drug dealers more quickly.

“It is vitally important to be proactive in identifying the source of illegal narcotics,” Dowdy told The Associated Press.

Dowdy has told The Star about the importance of early responses by MBN, explaining that it helped MBN target its efforts and track down drug dealers. 

According to the Bureau, 255 Mississippians were reported to have died by drug overdose in 2017.

President Donald Trump declared the opioid epidemic a national public health state of emergency in October. More than 42,000 Americans died by opioid overdose in 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — five times more than in 1999.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.