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Investigation finds Nebraska is likely under-reporting overdose deaths, costing it prevention money
Nebraska's drug overdose deaths are underreported due to low autopsy rates and coroners' dual roles, leading to reduced federal funding and limited harm reduction resources.
- Analysis by Flatwater Free Press suggests Nebraska's low drug death rate is likely false, potentially costing the state $50 million in federal substance abuse funding from D.C.
- Because Nebraska uses county attorneys as coroners, who can set their own rules, and autopsied only 12.5% of deaths outside hospitals, drug death undercounting persists.
- Following Derrek Cocchiarella's death, his family was told it was natural despite a fentanyl overdose, while Paul Weishapl at UNMC recorded 96 suspected overdose deaths over four years.
- The state receives roughly $63 per person from SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, the lowest nationally, and Governor Jim Pillen vetoed a 2024 syringe-service bill, limiting Narcan access.
- From 2010 to 2022, Nebraska's drug-involved death rate rose 73%, and if Nebraskans died at Montana's rate, 338 would have died of overdoses in 2023, showing undercounting concerns.
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Associated Press News+7 Reposted by 7 other sources
Investigation finds Nebraska is likely under-reporting overdose deaths, costing it prevention money
An investigation by the Flatwater Free Press found that the state of Nebraska is likely under-counting the number of overdose deaths, costing it millions of dollars in drug treatment funding.
·United States
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Nebraska undercounts drug overdose deaths, costing state millions in federal funding
When Derrek Cocchiarella died, officials called it 'natural causes.' The truth: fentanyl overdose. Nebraska is missing hundreds of similar deaths and is losing million in federal aid because of it.
·Omaha, United States
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We don’t know the real number of Nebraskans dying from drugs. It’s costing us. - Flatwater Free Press
Every year, Nebraska undercounts overdoses, say state officials, public health experts, on-the-ground treatment workers and a new Flatwater Free Press analysis. Laws and money are impacted. And lives hang in the balance.
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Total News Sources11
Leaning Left5Leaning Right0Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Left, 50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left, 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 50%
C 50%
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