It's a persistent scene in Philadelphia: Discarded needles, ambulance sirens and people overdosing on illicit drugs. But a new report shows Philly no longer leads the state in the rate of drug-related deaths.
Instead, rural communities in central and western Pennsylvania are being torn apart by the burgeoning opioid crisis that shows no signs of slowing down.
Last year, approximately 13 people per day died of a drug-related overdose in Pennsylvania, according to the report released Thursday by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Philadelphia Division and the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Pharmacy.
The 4,642 deaths marked a 37 percent increase from 2015.
While Philadelphia's drug overdose death rate dropped, the city still led the state in total number of fatalities with 907. Montgomery County came in third with 230.
“We are not going to arrest our way out of this and we are not going to treat our way out of this,” said Dr. Janice Pringle, director of PittPharmacy program evaluation and research unit at the University of Pittsburgh. “This has gone beyond our worst nightmares.”
Opioids were found in 85 percent of overdose deaths across the state, according to the report. Fentanyl and related synthetic opioids were the most frequently identified controlled substance.
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In fact, more than 95 percent of Pennsylvania’s counties reported fatal overdoses involving fentanyl, which is 50 percent more potent than heroin.
“The data that is included in this report tells a sobering story, but also gives us a road map for how we’re to combat this crisis,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said.
This road map includes continued collaboration between law enforcement, local jurisdictions and social services.
“This is our top priority in the commonwealth,” he said.
On Wednesday, Montgomery County officials revealed the death of a Norristown mother of three who overdosed on street-dealt fentanyl while in her hospital bed. An alleged drug dealer was captured on surveillance video delivering three baggies to her.
Much of that fentanyl being used in Pennsylvania is coming into the United States by way of China and Mexico and, in some cases, being ordered over the internet, according to DEA Special Agent in Charge Gary Tuggle.
The majority of fentanyl deaths involved white men, making them the most at-risk group to die of a drug overdose.
Heroin was the second most frequently identified substance in overdose deaths across the state.
Other key findings include:
- The state fatal overdose rate increased more than 26 percent from 2015 to 2016
- There was a 380 percent increase in fentanyl use among people between the ages of 15 and 24. People between the ages of 25 and 34 years old saw a 970 percent increase
- Rural counties saw a higher percentage in fatal overdoses compared to urban counties
- 70 percent of the those who died were men
- White people accounted for 77 percent of deaths, compared to 12 percent for African-Americans and 4 percent for Latinos. Seven percent of the deceased were identified as "other."
- Philadelphia County dropped in rank from first to fifth in the rate of deaths (per 100,000 residents) last year despite a 26 percent increase in the raw number of fatal overdoses. Fulton County in south central Pennsylvania jumped from 32nd to 1st in ranking.
