Members of St. John's United Church of Christ in Evans City set up the crosses, one for each person who died of an opioid overdoes in 2017. This year deaths from overdoses are down by half, a decrease attributed to increased awareness and prevention initiatives.

Butler County halved its number of overdose deaths in 2018.

The opioid problem persists, as evidenced by the wide array of local and state efforts to save the community’s addicts. This year’s figures suggest that the community support groups, the Narcan giveaways, the special school speakers, the caseworkers trying new strategies and other initiatives appear to be working.

Figures provided by the Butler County Coroner’s office appear to show a deadly, but decreasing, drug problem. In 2017, 92 people died of overdoses in Butler County. As of Wednesday, 41 people died of such causes. Another five deaths are pending further investigation, but might bring the total up slightly.

This county isn’t alone. Statewide, estimates from the Center of Disease Control show a 10.5 percent decrease in overdose deaths in Pennsylvania between May 2017 and May 2018.

During the same time frame nationwide, CDC estimates show a 0.1 percent increase in overdose deaths. Increases in states such as Illinois, Louisiana and New Jersey balance out decreases in states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio and Kentucky, for instance.