The Recover Highlights the Opioid Overdose Epidemic in Pennsylvania

The opioid overdose crisis is the scariest public health crisis in Pennsylvania, in almost 20 years. There is no doubt that the state is in the midst of an epidemic; the current public health has decreased dramatically over the recent years due to the overall increase in drug and alcohol abuse. According to the CDC, the leading substance being abused in PA are prescription opioids and heroin, with marijuana, cocaine, and a mixture of other club drugs are also commonly used. At least 10 Pennsylvanians die each day as a result of a drug overdose, because of this the state has joined its efforts together to defeat the ongoing battle of addiction.

Pennsylvania Alcohol-Related Accidents are prevalent, one, in particular, is driving while under the influence. A 2015 report by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, found that 10,558 alcohol-related crashes occurred with 74% of the drinking drivers being male.

Drug abuse in Pennsylvania has also increased over the past decade, with heroin being used more than half of the time, followed by cocaine. Pennsylvania had the most unreported opioid-related overdose deaths of any state – over 10,000 over the 17 years. That number doubled the recorded number of opioid-related overdose deaths, making Pennsylvania’s total to an estimated 20,521 deaths.

According to a nationwide study, Pennsylvania was one of five states that did not determine or specify the contributing drug on over 35 percent of its overdose deaths. The other states were Alabama, Indiana, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Since the state required all first responders to carry Naxalone, the opioid overdose reversal nasal spray  22,001 doses were given from Jan 01, 2018 – Jun 8, 2019, by EMS, and 13,499  total ER visits for Opioid Overdoses between Jan 01, 2018 – Jun 8, 2019.

However, preceding data is revealing a decline in drug overdose mortality, although there is more prevention work to be done. Pennsylvania vows to focus on saving lives, expanding treatment access, and getting patients into treatment regardless of their financial situations. Over the last two years, the state has done an incredible job expanding its medical care making it possible for anyone to obtain treatment.