Luzerne County overdose deaths break another record

Lisman –

For the fourth consecutive year, drug overdose deaths have reached a new record high in Luzerne County.

The county had 156 overdose deaths in 2018, with the potential for an additional nine awaiting toxicology analysis, the coroner’s office said.

In comparison, there were 155 overdose deaths in 2017, according to the office.

“It’s like a tsunami that hasn’t reached its peak yet, and it’s going to take many more lives,” said Swoyersville resident Greg Griffin, who has formed an organization to target the problem.

County Coroner William Lisman has been sounding the alarm about drug deaths for years.

Annual overdose deaths ranged from 45 to 70 between 2002 and 2014, but the number grew to then-highs of 95 in 2015 and 140 in 2016, office data shows.

More than half of the 2017 drug deaths involved the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl, often mixed with heroin, officials have said.

Lisman said he’s now finding cases of fentanyl mixed with the stimulant methamphetamine instead of heroin — an emerging concern.

Community advocates

Griffin, who lost a brother and sister-in-law from drug overdoses, said Lisman’s call for response to the problem inspired him to start the Luzerne County Citizens Opioid Committee.

He and other committee representatives have been meeting with local government officials and law enforcement to press for increased federal funding for the county Drug Task Force and other initiatives.

His group advocates a three-part solution: increased youth education about drug dangers; law enforcement crackdowns on dealers; and funding for effective treatment programs, including medication-assisted therapies and longer stays in residential facilities.

More than 70 area residents have contacted the committee to get involved — most struggling to cope with the loss of family members, said Griffin, inviting others to call him at 570-239-6244.

“These people are my army, and they don’t quit,” he said. “We have so many drug dealers coming in from New Jersey, Philadelphia and New York, and our law enforcement agencies can’t keep up with it unless they get the help they need.”

Deaths rising less sharply

County Drug and Alcohol Director Steve Ross said the latest count is “obviously disappointing,” but he sees promising signs.

For example, the number of drug deaths is not rising as sharply as before, he said. The numbers increased 42 percent in 2015, 47 percent in 2016 and 11 percent in 2017. Even if the additional nine pending toxicology turn out to be drug deaths in 2018, the total increase would be 6.5 percent.

“I think we are starting to see a softening,” said Ross, stressing he is not downplaying the significance of the overall numbers. “It took 20 years to dig this hole, and we’re not going to get out of it overnight.”

New drug of choice?

Heroin also may be losing some of its grip, he said. In the 2017-18 fiscal year, 66 percent of county clients in inpatient treatment reported heroin as their primary drug of choice. That percentage has been 51 percent this fiscal year to date, he said.

Ross largely credits the county’s Coalition to STOP Overdoses (www.stopcoalition.org), increased prescription drug monitoring and access to the opioid overdose antidote Naloxone. He also noted the county has drug awareness programs in schools and has expanded treatment initiatives, in part due to increased federal funding.

The coroner’s warning about methamphetamine highlights the historic cycling of different drugs, he said.

“There’s always going to be a drug of choice, so when one subsides, if you’re not focused on the next one, you will be behind the eight-ball,” Ross said.

He also cautioned alcohol never left the picture.

“Every time we do a needs assessment, statistics show this area has a high rate of alcohol abuse,” said Ross.

Lisman

Coroner’s office: 156 known fatalities, 9 more under review

Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.