According to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, there were 58,065 ER visits for opioid Overdoses between January 2018 and January 2024. There were an estimated 3,336 accidental and undetermined drug overdose deaths in the state in 2024.
In 2021, the state of Pennsylvania experienced 5,449 drug-related overdose deaths. This equates to nearly 15 deaths per day, which is more than 43 per 100,000 Pennsylvanians. That’s twice the national average.
Thankfully, the state of Pennsylvania uses several strategies to reduce overdoses, including widespread naloxone distribution, education, technical assistance, and access to other harm reduction tools.
The Pennsylvania Overdose Prevention Program (POPP) focuses on making naloxone and other harm reduction supplies easily accessible across the state. Launched on August 31, 2023, it serves as a one-stop resource where individuals and organizations can request naloxone, fentanyl test strips, xylazine test strips, and more. POPP also offers information, training, and technical assistance to support groups working on the front lines of the overdose crisis.
Additionally, through a partnership between DDAP and the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, the Co-Pay Assistance Program helps reduce the cost of naloxone by serving as the last-resort payor for co-pays. Since September 2021, 49 counties and 292 providers have participated, helping more than 4,000 people access naloxone at a lower cost.