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The Dauphin County Coroner, Graham Hetrick, has raised concerns about the rising mortality rate in the county, urging residents to adopt healthier lifestyles. According to the coroner's 2024 annual report, heart problems were identified as the leading cause of natural deaths last year. Hetrick emphasized the importance of evaluating dietary habits, physical activity, and other unhealthy behaviors to combat this trend.
The report also highlighted a significant decrease in drug overdose deaths, which dropped by half from the previous year. In 2024, 60 people died from drug overdoses in Dauphin County, compared to 123 in 2023. This positive trend was noted during a recent news conference, where Hetrick appeared for the first time in four years. He is currently running for re-election, facing a challenger for the first time since 2009.
Hetrick's call to action comes amid growing concerns about the overall health of Americans. He stressed the need for individuals to take proactive steps in improving their health to reverse the backward trend in mortality rates.