COVID-19 Sends Drug Overdose Deaths Soaring in Lehigh Valley

Pennsylvania’s battle with the opioid epidemic is the most detrimental public health crisis the state has seen in decades. Year after year, the deadly effects of these drugs send shockwaves through communities statewide. The numbers of fatal overdoses have remained relatively steady since a sharp uptick in 2016.

Experts worried about the impact COVID-19 would have on drug addiction and overdose rates. Isolation is a dangerous thing for anyone with a substance abuse problem. Whether they’re in recovery or still in active addiction, the threat remains the same. Rising stress and endless uncertainty pushed people to their limits and led many back to the bottle or their drug of choice.

Early on in the year, people held onto hope that the stay-at-home orders and bans on large gatherings would dissipate. Unfortunately, as the year progressed the orders endured. Millions of people turned to alcohol to quell their fears and grapple with the lack of end in sight surrounding the uncertain circumstances.

Now that it’s been a year since the initial orders were set in place, news surrounding the numbers is breaking. Deaths due to overdose appear to be up in 2020, confirming everyone’s initial fears. What do these initial numbers say about the patterns of drug use in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic?

Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are leading the problem but the data also shows that other drugs are still to blame, too. Overdose deaths that involved cocaine rose 26.5 percent over the last year, too. Overdoses caused by psychostimulants, especially methamphetamine, saw a 34.8 percent rise as well. This marks the first year that these drugs now exceed the number of cocaine-related deaths.

The Health Department explained that there’s often a 3- to a 6-month delay in receiving the numbers from each county coroner’s office. While they don’t have precise numbers to back up The Morning Call’s statistics, they did acknowledge that overdose numbers from January through July 2020 were higher than the respective month in 2019.

“The isolating nature of the pandemic has been incredibly challenging,” said Jennifer Smith, state Secretary of Drug and Alcohol Programs. “We are losing far too many Pennsylvanians.”

Fatal drug overdoses are the shocking reality for many people who abuse opioids. Whether intentional or accidental, an overdose is always a possibility when using prescription painkillers and other opioids. Encouraging a loved one to find help can be the thing that saves their life.

Despite the pressing concerns surrounding COVID-19, it’s not the only epidemic that’s facing the country. The CDC’s report stressed the importance of allowing treatment facilities to remain open with precautions in place. Help needs to be available for those trying to find their way out of the addiction cycle.

Drug rehab programs like the one at Peace Valley Recovery provide a solution to the devastating result of opioid addiction. Learning to live life without drugs and alcohol can be difficult but seeking treatment can be the difference between life and death. Reach out to speak with an admissions specialist and learn more about the programs we offer today!