By Christen Smith
Staff Reporter
Capitolwire
HARRISBURG (Aug.8) — Drug overdose deaths across the state increased 30 percent last year, according to the latest report from the Pennsylvania State Coroners Association released Monday.
The association reported 3,505 overdose deaths in 2015 — a dramatic uptick from the 2,489 recorded in 2014. Initial data for 2016, the association says, indicates the fatality rate will continue climbing.
“What this shows is that this is the worst public health crisis in our lifetime,” said Jeff Sheridan, spokesman for Gov. Tom Wolf. “It just underscores the magnitude of this crisis and we have to deal with this. We have made a lot of progress and we have a lot more to do. This is our greatest challenge.”
Lethal combinations of multiple prescription drugs account for the majority of deaths, the report finds, as well as heroin laced with fentanyl. Other culprits include cocaine and synthetic marijuana.
Allegheny and Philadelphia counties reported the largest overdose totals at 414 and 702 deaths, respectively, though deaths were recorded in all but two of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.
Combating opioid addiction remains a top priority for the Wolf administration. In 2014, under Wolf’s directive, state police began carrying the overdose-reversing drug Narcan, or Nalaxone, and as of March, have prevented more than 600 heroin and opioid-related deaths.
Last month the administration announced new prescribing recommendations for healthcare professionals aimed at preventing addiction and encouraging alternative forms of pain management.
The governor also negotiated a $15 million state budget appropriation — which will be used to draw down an additional $5.4 million in federal funding — to designate 20 “Centers of Excellence” across Pennsylvania. The addiction treatment centers will provide expanded services to 4,500 Medicaid recipients and Sheridan says the administration hopes to announce more centers at the end of the month.
The governor visited one of the newly-minted Centers of Excellence in Lycoming County Monday, where overdose deaths increased 48 percent last year, from a total of 13 cases in 2014 to 25 in 2015.
“I am thrilled that by working with Republicans and Democrats, we have achieved this level of funding for our fight against this public health crisis,” said Wolf. “Now that this year’s budget is complete, it is imperative that we all continue working together to focus on Pennsylvania’s opioid abuse and heroin use epidemic. While the budget allows us to expand treatment for individuals suffering from addiction, we can and should do more to address this matter that is plaguing all of our communities. My administration will keep its focus on this issue and I will continue preparing for the upcoming special session.”
The Republican and Democratic House Policy Committees began hosting joint public hearings last week on the crisis and will continue to do so through the end of August.
House leaders requested a special session on the issue in June amid budget negotiations. Senate leaders later added their support for the session.
The association says it is “willing” to help the Legislature “find solutions” to the state’s drug problem and warns the current “one-size-fits-all” approach isn’t adequate.
“Merely handing someone a card with locations of any treatment programs in the area doesn’t appear to be adequate,” the association writes in its report. “If someone is ready to commit to getting treatment, suggesting treatment may be available in a couple of days or weeks is not adequate. And while there are appropriate, necessary privacy concerns and Constitutional issues involving the 14th Amendment regarding involuntary commitments for treatment, providing Narcan without further follow-up is probably just changing the date of death.”
Sheridan says Wolf could call the special session in late September, though he cautions the timeline is not firm.
