The state’s Overdose Prevention Program is a statewide initiative led by the Pennsylvania

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs to expand access to naloxone and drug checking tools to prevent fatal overdoses and strengthen overdose response.

Through nearly 100 statewide partners, DDAP distributed more than 824,000 doses of naloxone and 922,000 fentanyl and xylazine test strips from October 2024 to September 2025.

Partners reached individuals in clinical settings, recovery programs, libraries, churches, campuses, drop-boxes, mail-based distribution, mobile outreach, and other places. The supplies were provided directly to the people most likely to witness or experience an overdose, including individuals who use drugs, family members, peers, and service providers.

This map, provided by data.pa.gov, shows drug overdose deaths across the state.

Between October 2024 and September 2025, frontline organizations reported over 11,400 overdose reversals linked to naloxone distributed through the Administration’s initiative – representing thousands of lives saved through timely intervention. Early estimates show that in 2025, Pennsylvania saw the fewest overdose deaths in more than a decade.

In Warren County, in 2020 there were six deaths reported,with no more reported until 2023, when there were 10 deaths. According to the data.pa.gov site, over the past 13 years, Warren’s surrounding counties have reported accidental and undetermined deaths: 11 in McKean, 19 in Crawford, eight in Venango 8. Drug overdose deaths are particularly acute in Pennsylvania’s cities, where Pittsburgh had 428 and Philadelphia 1058.

“”Every life saved is a reminder that a smart, compassionate, multidisciplinary response to the opioid crisis works,” said Gov. Josh Shapiro during a recent stop in Wyoming County. “Since day one, my administration has invested in proven, life-saving tools – getting naloxone into communities, expanding access to treatment, and meeting people where they are. The results are clear: overdose deaths are down, thousands of Pennsylvanians are alive today, and more families have hope. We will keep doing this work until every Pennsylvanian – no matter their zip code – has access to the care and support they deserve.”

The Pennsylvania Opioid Settlement Trust plays a crucial role in managing the significant funds received from opioid settlements, aiming to mitigate the impact of the opioid crisis through targeted community programs and support services. For more detailed information, you can visit the official website of the Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust at www.paopioidtrust.org

According to data on the Pennsylvania office of Drug surveillance and misuse prevention, of the 3,341 overdose deaths 76.4% were opioid-related. Preliminary reports for 2025 are unavailable due to small cell counts. The data for Warren County from 2024-25 currently shows that the numbers are between 1 and 5, meaning that the actual number is not reported in order to protect individuals’ information. There’s also still a chance that the data is not yet all received as it indicates there could be a lag due to data reporting delays.

Pictured here is a Naloxone (Narcan) dispensing machine at Corry Memorial Hospital, Erie County. Warren General Hospital does not currently have any naloxone machines, but is expected to utilize naloxone machines as part of its overdose response strategy.

“All counties received money based on overdose numbers and because we (Warren) didn’t have any deaths reported for so long, we got literally the lowest amount of money that any county could get,” said Melissa Baxter, SCA director for Forest Warren Human Services. “The counties with more deaths did receive more money. So just because our numbers weren’t reported, we didn’t really get factored into that settlement how we should.” Baxter also shared that, “I think it’s important to note that our current coroner is reporting overdoses.”

Baxter said opioids must be in the drug in order for Narcan to work; but often are mixed in with other drugs meaning that using Narcan can save lives; and it will not harm someone that does not actually have opiates in their system.