Description of Indicator
Recent data is unavailable about the estimated number of individuals with drug use disorder. Another indicator of drug use is the estimated number of drug overdose deaths, which are either accidental or undetermined. The rate of opioid prescriptions by retail pharmacies is noted for every 100 residents.
Why is it important?
The opioid epidemic is a public health crisis, and the rise of fentanyl has exacerbated the issue. Monitoring data related to diagnoses, overdose deaths, and opioid prescription rates can help care providers and policymakers better understand the extent of the problem, support targeted interventions, take preventative measures where appropriate, and evaluate the impact of such efforts. It is also important to reduce opioid addiction by promoting medical treatment programs in clinical settings.
How is the region performing?
All analyzed geographies, except Lackawanna County, experienced decreases in individuals with drug use disorder from 2019 to 2020. A rise in drug overdose deaths was documented in Wayne County from 2022 to 2023, while declines were noted in the other three geographies. In these three counties and statewide, the rate of opioid prescriptions decreased steadily from 2019 to 2023. Wayne County saw the largest decrease in opioid prescriptions from 2022 to 2023, which was significantly lower than rates in the other geographies. Opioid prescribing rates in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties remained higher than the statewide rates.