1/5/17 – 5:07 A.M.

Charges related to violent crime are down in Putnam County. The Putnam County Sentinel reports the county has seen a 20 percent decline in charges stemming from violent crimes between 2015 and 2017. At the same time, property crime charges have increased 49 percent.

The county has also seen a sharp increase in charges related to drugs and alcohol. Between the start of 2015 and November 30 of last year, those types of charges have increased 213 percent. The report says the opioid crisis likely played a big role in the jump.

MORE: Putnam County Sentinel