Drug overdose deaths increased in 2021 in Westmoreland County, reaching their highest point since 2017, according to the coroner’s annual report.
There were 168 accidental drug overdose deaths last year, the third highest total for the county and a 37% increase from 2020 when 123 people died. The powerful opioid fentanyl remains the top killer, contributing to 137 of the 168 deaths, according to coroner statistics.
Westmoreland County Detective Tony Marcocci attributed the spike to counterfeit pills that are created to look like legitimate prescription medication but actually contain fentanyl, as well as the strength of fentanyl and users who are combining it with other drugs in an effort to counteract its effects.
“I will blame it wholeheartedly on the pressed pills,” he said. “I hope that overdoses go down, but with the amount of fentanyl we’re finding on the streets, along with the amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine,” it doesn’t seem likely.
The annual report released Wednesday showed a slight increase in total caseload from 3,523 in 2020 to 3,571 last year. There were 24 traffic-related deaths, six homicides and 54 deaths by suicide. Deputy coroner Josh Zappone said the high number of total cases is the result of the coronavirus pandemic and a combination of people choosing to die on hospice at home, rather than stay in a hospital. Between 2019 and 2020, the office experienced a meteoric 21% rise in total cases, a figure that has increased annually since 2006 when there were 1,298 cases.
After hitting a high point in 2017 with 193 drug overdose deaths, the statistics dropped dramatically to 122, 115 and 123 deaths in 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively. The figure for 2021 is more than double the deaths from 10 years ago, when 64 people died from drug overdose, according to coroner statistics.
Mutual Aid director of operations Lorenzo Garino said they have seen fewer overdose calls because more people have naloxone, an opioid overdose antidote drug, at home than in the past. But that doesn’t necessarily mean overdoses are down. The drug epidemic might have been pushed to the back burner during the pandemic even though the issue still exists.
“Now, this is teaching us that this is still a big problem,” he said.
Tim Phillips, director of the Drug Overdose Task Force, pointed to the disruption created by the pandemic, resulting in counseling or group meetings for those in recovery switching to virtual methods. Harm reduction efforts might need to be redoubled to battle the increase, he said. He and Marcocci participate in awareness efforts throughout the county and distribute naloxone.
“It’s concerning to see a 37% increase,” Phillips said.
He hopes to establish a drug overdose review team that would examine some of the deaths to understand the circumstances and possibly prevent other similar situations. Enforcement in neighborhoods where the most deaths are occurring is important, too, Phillips said. The report showed that the most 2021 drug overdose deaths — 17 — happened in New Kensington, followed by Jeannette with 13, and Hempfield and Derry townships with 12 each.
The type of illicit substances involved in drug overdose deaths appears to be shifting.
Heroin was less prevalent. In about 30% of 2021 overdose deaths, heroin was present in the person’s system, compared with 47% in 2020, according to the report.
The percentage of people who also had used cocaine prior to their death increased — from 22% of 2020 overdose deaths to 28% in 2021. District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli said it is important to focus on all aspects of drug use — from prevention and treatment to enforcement and prosecution.
Ziccarelli said her office currently is prosecuting 30 cases of drug delivery resulting in death.
“This battle will be fought on all fronts, as the preservation of life is our number one priority,” she said.
The shift from heroin to fentanyl is more lucrative for dealers, Marcocci said, because fentanyl is much more powerful than heroin and, as a result, less is needed. He thinks the counterfeit pressed pills are reaching younger people who aren’t drug users.
“Unsuspecting people using something that they have no knowledge of,” he said.
The Drug Enforcement Administration in September issued a warning about counterfeit pills that can be created by large drug networks or anyone who has access to a pill press. They can resemble Oxycontin, Xanax or other legitimate drugs and then be sold online or through dealers.
Lab testing of millions of counterfeit pills seized nationwide in 2022 showed many of them contained fentanyl.
