County Overdose Deaths Drop 24-Percent

The Washington opioid overdose coalition met publicly last night to discuss various topics pertaining to the opioid epidemic in Washington county. Six different speakers discussed how addiction and overdoses are being handled in the area. Executive director of the Washington drug and alcohol commission and co-chair of the Washington opioid overdose coalition, Cheryl Andrews explained that the group will be meeting next month (11/15) to build on the next three years. Research Specialist at the University of Pittsburgh, Program Evaluation and Research Unit, Dane Miller shared pertinent information regarding Washington County data, while also displaying how the county is ahead of the curve compared to the rest of the state. Amy Kisner, Certified Recovery Specialist with the Washington Drug and Alcohol Commission spoke from a recovery perspective. Kisner discussed her thoughts on the correlation between mental health issues and opioid usage. In 2019, overdose deaths in Washington county are down 24 percent compared to last year.