MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Hennepin County officials and community organizations are launching an effort that they hope will reduce the number of opioid overdose deaths in the county this year.

he "NOverdose" campaign was formed after the release of data showing that the state'sT most populous county saw an increase of more than 30 percent in opioid overdose deaths in 2016.

Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek says the family of drugs, which includes opioid painkillers and heroin, killed more than 140 people in the county last year. Those who died ranged from 16 to 98 years old.

Stanek says law enforcement is good at investigating the criminal aspect of the drug epidemic, but that the campaign will aim to getting community partners to help raise awareness of the dangers of overdose.

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