The Opioid Epidemic Continues to Hit Pennsylvania Particularly Hard
The opioid epidemic continues to hit Pennsylvania particularly hard. Although the U.S. as a whole is in the midst of an epidemic of opiate addiction and overdose, the rate of drug-related overdose deaths in Pennsylvania is almost double the national overdose death rate.
Other health statistics reveal that the opioid epidemic continues to hit Pennsylvania particularly hard:
- Of the 44 counties in the U.S. with more than one million residents, Allegheny and Philadelphia rank #1 and #2, respectively, in rates of overdose death. 2
- In Pennsylvania in 2017, 1 out of every 37 hospital admissions were opioid-related. 3
5 Key Takeaways About Opioids in Pennsylvania
- Do not share medications. Most people who misuse opioids get them from friends or relatives.
- Don’t save medications when you no longer need them. Proper disposal of unused drugs can prevent addiction and overdose.
- Learn how to get help for addiction. Explore our website to learn the basics of addiction treatment and how to find local support.
- Pennsylvanians, use PA Stop materials to educate and activate your community about opioid risks. By every measure, the overdose epidemic has hit Pennsylvania particularly hard.
- Employers, you cannot afford to ignore the opioid epidemic. Start by learning five proactive steps to address addiction in the workplace.
What is PA Stop?
The Commonwealth Prevention Alliance (CPA) realizes immediate action needs to be taken to prevent opiate abuse in Pennsylvania. There are research-based approaches to preventing opiate use, addiction, and overdose.
Funded through a generous grant from the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), and together with our workgroup partners, we have developed free materials about opiate addiction for D&A professionals to download and distribute, as well as information and resources for anyone looking for HELP.
PA Stop is designed to educate Pennsylvanians about the risks of prescription painkiller and heroin use, the relationship between painkiller and heroin use, and what to do when you need help. We are working to prevent non-medical use of prescription painkillers and, in so doing, to break the connection between heroin and prescription painkillers. Together, we can stop opiate addiction before it starts.
– The Commonwealth Prevention Alliance Board of Directors
*NOTE: All licensed material is being used for illustrative purposes only, and any person depicted in the licensed material is a model.
