STORIES OF MOTHERS LOSING THEIR CHILDREN TO THE EPIDEMIC OF ADDIION.CT CHANDI: THESE ARE PICTURES OF PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES BECAUSE OF DRUG OVERDOSES. THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS GATHERED HERE AT THE CITY COUNTY BUILDING DOWNTOWN, TO HORNO THEIR MEMORIES. ON INTERNATIONAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY PICTURES HANG OUTSIDE OF THE CITY COUNTY BUILDING IN PITTSBURGH TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO DIED OF DRUG OVERDOS.SE MARY DNTIAONIO HOLDS A PICTURE OF HER SON, ANGELO, AND LOOKATS A HOMEMADE CARD FROM WHEN HE WAS A CHD.IL >> TO MOM, I LOVE YOU. HOW ARE YOU DOING THIS SUNDAY MOTHER’DAY.S CHANDI: SHE FEELS CFOOMRTN I KNOWING SHE’S NOT SUFFERING ALONE, BUT HEALING WITH OTHERS WHO SHARE HER PAIN OF LOSING A LOVED ONE TO ADDICTION. >> IT IS TO SEE PEOPLE GATHERED TOGETHER TO KNOW THEY ARE NOT FORGOTN.TE THEY ARE SOMEONE’S SON, SOMEONE’S HUSBD.AN SOMEONE’S FATHER. HIS SON ASKED FOR HIM, HE’ONLYS TWO YEARS OLD AND HE DOESN’T KNOW WHERE DADDY IS. CHANDI: AFTER KEN WALTERSON S TIM DIED IN 2013, HE CO-FOUNDED A PITTSBURGH CHAPTER OF THE GROUP GRASP TO HELP FAMILIES COPE. >> I THINK IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE’VE LOST. THERE’S SO MUCH AS YOU LOOK AT THESE PHOTOS, SO MUCH LOST POTENTIAL, SO MANY OF THEES PEOPLE WERE VERY YOUNG. CHANDI: JEANNA FISHER IS THE FOUNDER OF PITTSBURGH WON’T FORGET U. SHE ORGANIZED THE MEMORI, ALIN HONOR OF HER DAUGHTER, MARLEY. >> WE’RE NOT HIDING IN THE SHADOWS ANYMORE. ANI D STARTED THIS GROUP TO BRING OUT OTHER FAMILIES LIKE MYSELF THAT WANT TO TALK ABOUT THEIR CHILD AND THEY WANTOT TELL EVERYBODY WHAT THEY DIED FROM AND THEY WANT TO TRY AND SAVE OTHER PEOPLE. CHANDI: SAVING OTHERS, IS SHAWN BORTZ’S MISSION. HE’S BEEN IN RECOVERY FOR 20 YEARS. BOTZ SAYS HE BECAME ADDICTED AFTER BEING PRESCRIBED PAIN PILLS FROM A DENTISTT A JUST 14 YEARS OLD. EITGH OF S HIFRIENDS PICTURES ARE HANGING, AND DOZENS MORE OF HIS FRIENDS ARE NO LONGER HE.RE >> FOR ALL OF MY FRIENDS I’VE LOST I FEEL LIKE IT’S MY JOB TO CARRY THIS MESSAGEND A TO GI PEOPLE HOPE THAT THERE IS A BETTER WAY OUT THERE. CHANDI: FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO WANT TO TA PKEART IN THE MEMORIAL, CAN GO THE FACEBOOK PAGE, PITTSBURGH WON’T FORG
Overdose deaths in Allegheny County were up in 2021
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Updated: 2:16 PM EDT Jul 8, 2022
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.
