Nov 22, 2015 3 min read

For years, many people have wondered about the extent of Fayette County’s drug overdose problem. It seemed like we’ve always had more than our fair share of them, but there hadn’t been a way to verify or compare our rates with other counties.

Until now that is. The numbers are in, and they’re very disturbing to say the least. A Drug Enforcement Agency report for 2014 showed that Fayette County had the fourth highest rate of drug deaths in Pennsylvania at 29.83 for every 100,000 residents. Philadelphia had the highest ranking at 41.98, followed by Susquehanna and Cambria counties at 33.4 and 31.22, respectively.

In terms of sheer numbers, Fayette County, which ranks 26th among the state’s 67 counties in population, had the 13th highest number of drug deaths at 40. Philadelphia had the highest number of drug deaths with 655, followed by Allegheny County with 307.

Several other neighboring counties also had numbers that were among the highest in the state. Greene County had the 10th highest rate of drug deaths at 23.78 with nine deaths. Allegheny County was eighth at 24.93 and Westmoreland County was ninth at 24.49.

Westmoreland County had the seventh highest number of drug overdose deaths at 88, while Washington County was just behind Fayette County with 37 fatalities.

So while we’re not alone, the problem does seem somewhat bigger here than elsewhere in Southwestern Pennsylvania and most other counties across the commonwealth. And it doesn’t seem to be getting any better. In a story in today’s paper, Fayette County Coroner Dr. Phillip Reilly said he’s worried that the number of drug overdose deaths this year could hit 50.

It may seem, in a way, cold to talk about this problem in terms of numbers. The numbers can’t begin to describe the agony and despair of family members who have watched their loved ones pass on because of drugs. That’s the real tragedy in this situation.

This is a problem that affects all Fayette County residents. We all know someone, whether it’s a family member or a friend, who has fallen victim to the evils of drugs.

It’s not like people haven’t been trying to deal with the problem. The Fayette County Drug and Alcohol Commission has been trying very hard for years to educate county residents about the dangers of drugs. They’ve also been involved in trying to get people the help they need to kick their various drug habits.

Members of the Fayette County Drug Task Force have done a commendable job in trying to stem the flow of drugs into our streets. Our state and local police officers have worked tirelessly to protect local residents. Our district attorney and judges have also tried to put drug dealers behind bars, where they belong.

But obviously something’s not hitting home. Maybe we need more resources, or maybe we need more money. Whatever it is, we urge the newly-elected board of Fayette County commissioners to tackle the problem head-on when they take office in early January. Maybe they could convene a summit of sorts to bring everyone together and talk about the best way to lower the number of drug deaths.

Of course, we can’t expect anyone to solve this problem alone. We all need to do our part. Working together, though, we can make it happen. We simply can’t afford to wait and watch the numbers continue to rise. That’s simply unacceptable. We need action now.