Drug charges: death rates up despite “war on drugs”

New report show that an average of seven people die each day in Pennsylvania of a drug overdose or other drug-related causes. Because of this, police are cracking down, particularly on opiates like heroin and prescription pills, because of the major epidemic they are causing. If you have been arrested on drug charges in Pennsylvania, do not expect leniency. Although the “war on drugs” has all but failed, the commonwealth is taking it upon itself to ensure people in Pennsylvania are safe from dangerous drugs. Last year, there were nearly 2,500 drug-related deaths in Pennsylvania, according the report by the Pennsylvania State Coroners Association. According to the report, Philadelphia, Allegheny, Bucks, Delaware, and York counties had the highest rate of incidence. Here in Western PA, coroners reported nearly 23 deaths per 100,000 people. Among Western PA counties, Allegheny had 303 deaths, Westmoreland had 87, Cambria had 37, Washington and Butler each had 33, Armstrong had 17, and Indiana and Greene counties each had ten. According to one state representative, these drug overdoses represent a real problem facing our state, mainly from the “heroin crisis.” The most counties, the data represented a 20% increase in deaths from the previous year. What’s worse is that most experts believe the reported numbers to be dramatically understated because thirteen of PA’s counties did not report. Some of those counties include Beaver, Lawrence, Somerset, and Fayette here in Western Pennsylvania. It is believed that these four counties would be considered hotbeds for heroin use and drug overdoses. Throughout the state, heroin and other opiate-related deaths account for nearly 50% of overdoses. In addition, it isn’t known how many people overdose on drugs and survive. State officials say that addressing this problem requires help from law enforcement, plus more education initiatives, treatment, and state and federal funding. If you have been arrested on drug charges, you will need an experienced criminal defense lawyer who understands the fine print associated with drug laws. Call Pittsburgh drug charges attorney Gary Gerson today for a free consultation at 412-219-6875. Source: TribLive.com, “Report: Drug overdoses kill at least seven Pennsylvanians each day” 6 May 2015