Connect with us

Rhode Island

Hundreds of Rhode Islanders died of overdoses last year. Here’s a look at the numbers.

Published

on

Hundreds of Rhode Islanders died of overdoses last year. Here’s a look at the numbers.



Which RI city had the highest rate of fatal overdoses? Did more men or women die? A closer look at RI Health Department data.

PROVIDENCE – Gov. Dan McKee shared good news Wednesday when he announced Rhode Island’s 7% decrease last year in accidental overdoses, but he acknowledged that the state has “a lot more work to do” in addressing its overdose “epidemic.”

The number of people in Rhode Island who died from overdoses fell in 2023 for the first time in four years, but still, overdoses claimed 404 lives here last year.

Here’s a look at some of the data the Rhode Island Department of Health released in conjunction with Wednesday’s announcement by McKee and the Governor’s Overdose Task Force.

Advertisement

The overdose epidemic in Rhode Island, by the numbers

  • Most people who died from a drug overdose were male, 69%. 
  • Most overdoses were among Rhode Islanders ages 24 to 55. Rhode Islanders ages 35 to 44 saw the greatest increase in overdose deaths, 73.9 per 100,000.  
  • In 2023, the rate of fatal overdoses decreased by 11% among Black (non-Hispanic) and 15% among Hispanic or Latino Rhode Islanders. The rate among white (non-Hispanic) Rhode Islanders remained similar to previous years. But the overdose rate among Black (non-Hispanic) Rhode Islanders remains higher than that of white Rhode Islanders. 
  • Woonsocket had the highest rate of fatal overdoses, with 67.4 overdose deaths per 100,000 people. It was followed by Providence, 53.3 per 100,000; Pawtucket, 46.6 per 100,000; East Providence, 31.9 per 100,000; Cranston, 31.5 per 100,000; and Warwick, 24.1 per 100,000.
  • Eight in 10 overdose deaths happened in private settings.
  • Opioids and fentanyl are still driving the overdose epidemic in Rhode Island, the Health Department said. In 2023, 85% of overdoses involved any opioid, including fentanyl, while 78% involved fentanyl.
  • 58% percent of the fatal overdoses involved cocaine. In those cases, the department said, it’s unclear whether the overdose victim knew they were using more than one substance.
  • This was the first decrease in overdose deaths since 2018-2019. In 2018, 314 people died of overdose deaths, and the number fell to 308 in 2019. 
  • The state Department of Health’s website shows that more than 400 people have died from overdoses in each of the last three years, 404 in 2023, 436 in 2022 and 435 in 2021.
  • 3,471 people have died from overdoses in the 10 years between 2014 and 2023, according to figures on the website.
  • 66 overdose deaths have been recorded so far this year, but it can take months to confirm overdose deaths because of the complex toxicology tests often required, the Health Department says.



Source link

Rhode Island

Married couple from R.I. identified as victims in fatal Swansea crash

Published

on

Married couple from R.I. identified as victims in fatal Swansea crash


Local News

The two victims were identified as a husband and wife from Rhode Island, local officials said.

A Rhode Island husband and wife in their 50s were identified as the two people killed in a Swansea car crash Friday night.

Carlolyn Carcasi, 54, and James Carcasi, 53, of Bristol, Rhode Island, were killed in the Feb. 27 crash, the office of Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn said in a press release Monday.

Advertisement

The crash occurred at the intersection of Route 136 and Route 6 in Swansea, Quinn’s office said.

Police in Cranston, Rhode Island identified the driver who allegedly hit the couple as Demitri Sousa, 28. Sousa allegedly shot and killed a man in Rhode Island nearly four hours before the crash, Cranston police said.

At around 12:18 a.m. Friday, Swansea police spotted Sousa’s Infiniti barreling down Route 6, Swansea officials said previously.

The couple was driving southbound on Route 136 when the Sousa crashed into the side of a Subaru Ascent. Both cars had “catastrophic damage,” and the Subaru was engulfed in flames, Swansea fire and police officials said. 

Both occupants of the Subaru were declared dead at the scene, Swansea officials said.

Advertisement

Sousa was transported to a local hospital, where he is being treated for serious injuries. He is expected to live and will be held in Cranston police custody until he is medically cleared, police said Sunday.

Sign up for the Today newsletter

Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Rhode Island

Women’s Fund of Rhode Island, leaders celebrate Women’s History Month with panel event

Published

on

Women’s Fund of Rhode Island, leaders celebrate Women’s History Month with panel event


Women’s Fund of Rhode Island and U.S. Sen. Jack Reed celebrated Women’s History Month in Cranston with a panel discussion on Monday.

The event was held at the Cranston Public Library at 9 a.m.

Reed and other leaders of WFRI hosted a panel discussion with women leaders in environmental and agricultural advocacy, education, community resilience, housing, finance, workforce development, and more, officials said.

Women’s Fund of Rhode Island and U.S. Sen. Jack Reed celebrated Women’s History Month in Cranston with a panel discussion on Monday. (WJAR)

Advertisement

“Women have played a critical role in this process, most often without any recognition,” Reed said. “Today’s panel brings together an extraordinary group of women who are addressing the challenged of sustainability from various angles and I want to thank you all for your great efforts.”

The panelists highlighted their experiences, shared insights and tips on lifting up women’s voices, provided strategies for sparking change and more.

Comment with Bubbles

JOIN THE CONVERSATION (1)

According to officials, some of the panelists included Executive Director of the Rhode Island Food Policy Council Nessa Richman, Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives at Rhode Island College Kim Bright, Newport Housing Authority Executive Director Rhonda Mitchell and more.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Rhode Island

Man allegedly kills man in R.I. before causing car crash that killed 2 in Mass.

Published

on

Man allegedly kills man in R.I. before causing car crash that killed 2 in Mass.


Local News

“On behalf of the Cranston Police Department, I want to extend my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Javon Lawson and the two individuals who were killed in the crash in Swansea,” Col. Michael J. Winquist said.

A Seekonk man is accused of murder after he allegedly shot and killed a man in Rhode Island before causing a car crash in Swansea that killed two people last week, police said.  

Demitri Sousa, 28, is charged with murder, using a firearm while committing a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license, the Cranston Police Department said.

Advertisement

The shooting occurred Thursday night in Cranston, police said in a press release.

That night, Sousa allegedly arrived at the Cranston home of Javon Lawson, 35. Sousa began banging on the side door of the home, police said. 

When Lawson approached the door, he was hit by gunfire from outside, police said.

First responders transported Lawson to the Rhode Island Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Cranston police said.

“Based on the preliminary investigation, the motive is believed to be a dispute between the suspect and the victim over a mutual female acquaintance. Detectives are continuing this investigation to gain more insight, as well as to collect and analyze evidence,” Colonel Michael Winquist, Chief of Cranston police, said in an emailed statement to Boston.com.

Advertisement

Neighbors gave police video footage that “showed a male subject wearing dark clothing and a mask walking toward the residence moments before the shooting and fleeing immediately afterward,” Winquist said.

The suspect was also seen running to a white Infiniti sedan which then drove off, the Cranston police chief said.

Shortly after the shooting, a license plate reader captured the vehicle driving southbound on Route 10, and then later in Fall River and Westport, Massachusetts. The sedan’s license plate was registered in Sousa’s name, Winquist said.

At around 12:18 a.m. Friday, Swansea police spotted Sousa’s Infiniti barreling down Route 6, Swansea officials said.

Just moments later, Sousa allegedly “crashed into the side of another vehicle, a blue 2022 Subaru Ascent that had been traveling southbound on Route 136,” Swansea Police Chief Mark Foley and Fire Chief Eric Hajder said in a joint press release.

Advertisement

Both vehicles had “catastrophic damage,” and the struck car was engulfed in flames, the Swansea officials said.

The driver and passenger of the hit car — a man and a woman — were declared dead at the scene, they said.

“Swansea Police had been alerted to be on the lookout for the suspect vehicle. However, Swansea Police were not involved in the pursuit and were not pursuing the vehicle at the time of the crash,” the Swansea chiefs wrote. Swansea official have not announced charges related to the fatal crash.

Sousa had been driving the Infiniti and appeared to be suffering from serious injuries, Winquist said. Inside the car, police found a pistol and “additional .22 caliber ammunition was recovered” from Sousa at Rhode Island Hospital, Winquist said.

Police arrested Sousa and transported him to Rhode Island Hospital. Sousa is expected to survive, Winquist said. Sousa will be held in Cranston police custody until he is conscious and medically cleared, Winquist said.

Advertisement

“On behalf of the Cranston Police Department, I want to extend my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Javon Lawson and the two individuals who were killed in the crash in Swansea,” Winquist said.

Sign up for the Today newsletter

Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending