HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania State Coroners Association (PSCA) on August 8 release the 2015 Report on Overdose Deaths in the Commonwealth. All 67 counties have provided their data on the number of deaths and the drugs involved in those deaths.

Drug-related deaths have continued to increase. In 2014 that number reached at least 2,489 individuals. The year 2014 showed an average increase of about 20% over the prior year for many counties. In 2015 the number of drug-related deaths increased to 3,505, or a 30% increase over the prior year. If initial data for 2016 is any indication, the number of deaths will continue to increase.

Ten people die every day in Pennsylvania from drug-related causes. Not known are the number of persons who overdose but survive. In addition, this number may be somewhat conservative since many hospitals throw away admission blood after three days, leaving nothing to be forensically analyzed in case of death.

The ages of the deceased range from under two months to 94 years of age. The majority of deaths are found in the age group 30 to 39 years old, with a vast majority occurring between the ages of 30 and 49 years old. Men represent 66% of the deaths. The typical decedent is single, and either has never been married, is divorced, or is widowed.

Most deaths are the result of multiple prescription drugs either alone or with the addition of heroin or, to a lesser degree, cocaine. In addition, there has been a significant increase in the number of heroin deaths that were accompanied by the addition of fentanyl or acetyl fentanyl.