ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Significant strides have been made in addressing a public health crisis in Missouri. New reports out from the University of Missouri - St. Louis, Missouri Institute of Mental Health show another year with a precipitous decrease in drug overdose deaths, including those involving opioids.

It is something welcomed by those working on harm reduction efforts.

“It’s super exciting to hear. Every year, we hope to see reductions in lost lives. We would love to see ourselves run out of a job,” said Patti Fitzwalter, a co-founder with her husband Ellis Fitzwalter of H.E.A.L.: Stop Heroin .

Ellis Fitzwalter added, “All these organizations that are working together, like MIMH, PreventEd, Preferred Family Healthcare, Saving Our Children, just to name a few of them,

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