Overdose deaths in Allegheny County were up in 2021

Allegheny County saw 719 overdose deaths last year, an increase from the year before. That’s according to new information from the Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Karl Williams.Watch our report on Overdose Awareness Day in the video player aboveThat's accounting for 25% of all deaths under his office's jurisdiction. The 2021 figure of 719 overdose deaths is 30 more than in 2020.Fentanyl and cocaine were the drugs most commonly found during autopsies. Three people under the age of 14 died from overdoses. One-hundred and eighty-two were between 35 and 44 years old. And 46 for people 65 and older.“We know that since 1999, overdose deaths nationwide involving opioids and synthetic opioids have increased by more than eight times and that more than 107,000 deaths were reported in the United States last year alone,” Williams said in a statement. “Allegheny County is certainly not alone in addressing this crisis as data from our surrounding counties also shows these same challenges.” “If people need help, there are resources available to them,” said Department of Human Services Director Erin Dalton. DHS has invested in the development of several treatment services for anyone battling addiction, including:Pathway to Care and Recovery, a 24/7/365 service located downtown to provide information, level of care assessments, referral assistance and support for those in need of services or support related to their substance use disorderCertified Assessment Centers, were developed to provide non-biased assessments and access to substance use treatmentPOWER Restore Program, opened in January 2022, is the first addiction treatment program in Pennsylvania to offer integrated withdrawal management and residential rehabilitation in a gender-specific facilityIf you or someone you know needs help with substance use, call 412-325-7550 or PA Get Help Now at 1-800-662-HELP.For more information on the overdose deaths in Allegheny County for 2021, and prior years, you can visit the OverdoseFreePA website or the county death data page.

Allegheny County saw 719 overdose deaths last year, an increase from the year before. That’s according to new information from the Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Karl Williams.

Watch our report on Overdose Awareness Day in the video player above

That's accounting for 25% of all deaths under his office's jurisdiction. The 2021 figure of 719 overdose deaths is 30 more than in 2020.

Fentanyl and cocaine were the drugs most commonly found during autopsies. Three people under the age of 14 died from overdoses. One-hundred and eighty-two were between 35 and 44 years old. And 46 for people 65 and older.

“We know that since 1999, overdose deaths nationwide involving opioids and synthetic opioids have increased by more than eight times and that more than 107,000 deaths were reported in the United States last year alone,” Williams said in a statement. “Allegheny County is certainly not alone in addressing this crisis as data from our surrounding counties also shows these same challenges.”

“If people need help, there are resources available to them,” said Department of Human Services Director Erin Dalton.

DHS has invested in the development of several treatment services for anyone battling addiction, including:

Pathway to Care and Recovery, a 24/7/365 service located downtown to provide information, level of care assessments, referral assistance and support for those in need of services or support related to their substance use disorder

Certified Assessment Centers, were developed to provide non-biased assessments and access to substance use treatment

POWER Restore Program, opened in January 2022, is the first addiction treatment program in Pennsylvania to offer integrated withdrawal management and residential rehabilitation in a gender-specific facility

If you or someone you know needs help with substance use, call 412-325-7550 or PA Get Help Now at 1-800-662-HELP.

For more information on the overdose deaths in Allegheny County for 2021, and prior years, you can visit the OverdoseFreePA website or the county death data page.

Overdose deaths in Allegheny County were up in 2021

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