Chilton County Coroner Randy Yeargan reported some statistics this past week that might be surprising to some.

The number of suicides in Chilton County is significantly less this year than in the past two years. Granted, this year is only half over, but this year’s two suicides is far less than the nine reported in 2007 or the 11 in 2006.

While no suicide is good news, it is good to hear that there were no teenage suicides this year or last year.

In 2006, however, three of the reported suicides in Chilton County were teenagers.

Despite the fact that drug overdoses are usually deemed accidental, Yeargan thinks drug use among teenagers might be a contributing factor to suicide.

There are, in fact, less overdoses occurring now than in 2006, specifically in reference to drugs like methadone, which is often found in lethal combinations with other drugs.

Yeargan spoke optimistically about school-based drug awareness programs, not as a cure-all but as something that can never hurt.

So, what are the people of Chilton County supposed to do with suicide statistics?

We can look for signs among our loved ones, not in a judgmental manner but out of care and compassion for them.

Parents should take notice if their teenager exhibits overly depressive or anti-social behavior, which are some of the primary indicators of suicide but do not always point in that direction.

Because most suicides reported over the last 30 months involved guns (eight in 2006, six in 2007, and both cases this year), parents can make it difficult for teenagers to have access to guns.

Because adults have access to pretty much anything they want, however, it is doubly important that family members look for help if they suspect an adult family member is suicidal.

Ideally, through the vigilance of both parents and educators, someone might be saved from becoming a statistic.