Trends in Addiction and Treatment are Changing in Pennsylvania

September 23, 2024

Pennsylvania’s health care providers are continuing to monitor trends in drug overdoses and illegal drug use across the commonwealth.

While prescription opioids and heroin have made headlines, providers are seeing more patients using fentanyl and stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine, a panel of experts testified before state lawmakers today.

This morning, the House Republican Policy Committee hosted a hearing focused on Pennsylvania’s drug crisis, the impact of fentanyl and xylazine, and steps to support treatment and recovery. The hearing featured insights from the health care community, law enforcement, and drug treatment court officials.

“The drug overdose epidemic has evolved significantly over the last two decades,” Michael Lynch, MD, FACMT, UPMC Health Plan Quality and Substance Use Disorder Services and director of UPMC Medical Toxicology Telemedicine Bridge Clinic, said in prepared testimony.

Here are five things to know:

• Encouraging signs:  Pennsylvania saw drug overdose deaths decline by about 9 percent from 2022 to 2023, and early data from the CDC for this year indicate the positive trend is continuing.
  • Access to naloxone, drug-checking test supplies, removing barriers to treatment (mobile, telehealth), and care coordination programs have played an important role to reverse overdose trends, panelists said.
• Changing trends:  The emergence of other drugs (xylazine, stimulants combined with fentanyl) have created another layer of challenge to care for patients with substance use disorder, the panelists noted.
• About treatment courts:  The judicial system, care providers, law enforcement, and other community stakeholders can work as collaborative partners to address substance abuse problems and help put participants on the path to recovery, the panelists testified.
  • “When we talk about reentry, we talk about community partnerships,” said Chester County Chief Probation Officer Chris Pawlowski.
• Bottom line:  Everyone plays a role to reduce overdose deaths and move public health trends in a positive direction.
• Quotable:  “Access to treatment is critically important, particularly in underserved communities," Lynch said.

Luzerne County Assistant District Attorney Jessica Miraglia recounted her story, going through the Luzerne County Treatment Court as one of its first graduates to ultimately becoming the supervising prosecutor for the county’s treatment courts years later. “Giving me services and supporting me was all I needed,” she said.

HAP and Pennsylvania hospitals are focused on efforts that support access to care and long-term recovery across the commonwealth. This includes ensuring investment in our behavioral health care system to meet the growing demand for this care.

Today’s hearing is available to watch online.