9 died of drug overdose in 2023

In 2023, Pinal County saw fewer accidental deaths year-over-year, according to new numbers from the Pinal County Medical Examiner’s Office. 

Deaths from car crashes dropped about 17%, with 68 deaths in 2023 compared to 82 the previous year. There were four vehicular deaths in and around Maricopa in 2023, including a pedestrian suicide and an infant who died in a Hidden Valley crash. 

The county last year reported 97 drug and alcohol deaths, compared to 96 in 2022. Maricopa saw nine such deaths with six involving fentanyl. 

The youngest person to die of overdose in Maricopa was 14 years old. The oldest was 59. 

Excessive heat was a factor in four deaths in Maricopa in 2023, including a meth overdose. 

PCMEO will release its final data in an annual report later this year. 

Deadly year for heat 

July’s unrelenting heat wave proved to be deadly for residents in Pinal County.  

The county saw 18 heat-related deaths that month, according to PCMEO. 

That made it the deadliest month in recent years. The next deadliest month took place in July 2022, with 13 heat-related deaths.  

Seeing a spike in heat deaths in July was not unusual, according to PCMEO Investigations Supervisor André Davis. 

“I believe July and August are historically the months we see the most heat-related deaths,” he said.

All but three of the July 2023 deaths occurred within a 12-day period during the region’s record heat wave. Daily high temperatures were consistently 110 to 117 degrees for 31 consecutive days, according to the National Weather Service. 

So far, the county confirmed 28 heat deaths for 2023, but investigations are still being completed.  

“There are currently 21 cases pending toxicology or other ancillary testing,” Davis said. He did not confirm how many were heat-related cases.  

In 2023, the total heat-related deaths in Maricopa lingered at four: one in late June, two during the July heat wave and one in August. The people who died were between 33 and 79 years old. 

Three listed heat exposure as the primary cause. All had at least one underlying factor that contributed to or worsened the decedent’s condition, such as heart disease or substance abuse.