Missouri’s Overdose Crisis Turns a Corner | St. Louis News

Missouri’s overdose death rate is dropping—down to 1,450 last year from over 2,000 in 2021 and 2022—thanks to relentless advocacy by families like Patti and Ellis Fitzwalter, founders of H.E.A.L.: Stop Heroin after losing their son Michael. Their efforts, alongside groups like SOUL, PreventED, and the MO Network for Opioid Reform, are turning grief into action: organizing remembrance walks, promoting medication safety, and urging everyday conversations about unknown pills. Simple steps—like securing meds at home or having naloxone ready—are saving lives. This community-driven push proves that while the crisis hasn’t vanished, collective resolve is turning the tide toward a safer future. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/5cfb5e3012427e08