ST. LOUIS — Two women were found dead in their car Monday afternoon on Lucas Avenue with no obvious signs of trauma. Law enforcement sources said their deaths are being investigated as likely drug overdoses.
According to a friend of the two women, they worked in the area at nearby restaurants for a year.
"They had a lot of positive energy and were very funny. They did everything together. They will be missed for sure. It's hard to talk about it because it's still fresh in my mind," a friend told 5 On Your Side.
Stacie Zellin with PreventEd said her agency works to prevent and reduce the harms associated with substance use.
"It still tells us that there is so much work to be done, that this is definitely a topic that we're very much concerned about, and there's a lot of steps that people can take to prevent overdose in their communities," Zellin said.
Zellin said the stigma surrounding substance abuse is something they want to change.
"Stigmatizing people who use drugs is definitely not going to help the problem. When people feel stigmatized, it makes them less likely to talk about their experiences and less likely to reach out for help. So by reducing stigma, changing the language that we use, and also just, viewing substance use disorder as a brain disease, that's something that can be incredibly helpful," Zellin said.
Recent city data reveals in 2022, there were 487 overdose deaths, which rose from 452 in 2021.
Zellin said nobody should be afraid to alert emergency services to save a life.
"Sometimes we hear this concern that they're going to get in trouble. And that's why here in Missouri, we have 911 Good Samaritan laws, which offers protection from prosecution if someone calls for help in a medical emergency," Zellin said.
PreventEd offers free Narcan at four locations, including St. Louis, St. Clair, Washington and Union.
Their next overdose education and Narcan training will be held virtually on Feb. 15 from noon to 1 p.m. To register, click this link.