According to Rowan officials, there were a similar number of overdose deaths in the county last year when compared to 2023. Matt Sparks is the Sheriff of Rowan County. He said in 2023 the county had 21 deaths related to drug use and for 2024 there were 23. However, Sparks said that number could increase by one or two pending the results of toxicology reports submitted in late December.
Sparks said one of his priorities is making sure dealers face consequences for these deaths.
“I mean, we suspect a lot of times right from the start, that depending on who that person is, maybe they've overdosed before. When we start in those investigations, we obviously start by talking to the family, ‘Do you know where he or she's buying drugs?’ The first thing we try to do is get in these cell phones. Just about everybody now has a cell phone. A lot of times that’s roadblock number one is getting that passcode and into that phone to see where those drugs are coming from,” said Sparks.
He reported these issues made it difficult to prosecute dealers in 2024.
“We haven't been able to charge anybody with an overdose death. We’re up to 37 or 38 total drug charges. But not with a specific as it relates to ‘this guy sold the dope that killed this guy’. We haven't been able to do that,” Sparks said.
The sheriff said another roadblock is confirming through autopsies that the person died due to drug use. He added that usually, a toxicology report is not sufficient to charge these people for murder. Officials said they have also been working to curtail the use of drugs early through preventive training, interventions for high school students, and by connecting people to rehabilitation services.