TUNKHANNOCK, PA — With early estimates showing Pennsylvania overdose deaths at their lowest level in more than a decade, Gov. Josh Shapiro brought his administration’s message directly to the front lines Friday, convening a roundtable in Wyoming County to highlight what officials call a turning point in the state’s fight against addiction.
Joined by Latika Davis-Jones, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, and Debra Bogen, Shapiro met with emergency responders, local officials, and people in recovery at the Wyoming County Emergency Management Agency to discuss strategies to save lives, prevent fatal overdoses, and support families grappling with substance use disorder .
The visit followed the release of the Shapiro Administration’s Overdose Prevention Program Annual Report, which details a dramatic expansion of harm-reduction tools statewide. Between October 2024 and September 2025, frontline organizations reported more than 11,400 overdose reversals linked to naloxone distributed through the program. Over that same period, the state distributed more than 824,000 doses of naloxone along with 922,000 fentanyl and xylazine test strips .
Early data indicate that those efforts are translating into lives saved. State officials say 2025 recorded the fewest overdose deaths in Pennsylvania in more than ten years, even as the drug supply grows more unpredictable.
“Every life saved is a reminder that a smart, compassionate, multidisciplinary response works,” Shapiro said, pointing to expanded access to naloxone, treatment, and community-based outreach as key drivers behind the decline .
In Wyoming County and neighboring northeastern Pennsylvania counties, 233 overdose reversals were reported last year, with more than 35,000 naloxone doses distributed locally. Participants in the roundtable included county prosecutors, EMS leaders, prevention specialists, opioid settlement committee members, and individuals in recovery, offering perspectives from across the response system .
While overall overdose deaths are falling, state health officials cautioned that disparities persist. Department of Health data show overdose death rates remain significantly higher among communities of color, with Black Pennsylvanians dying from overdoses at twice the rate of white Pennsylvanians in 2024.
The Overdose Prevention Program operates through nearly 100 statewide partners, using a hub-and-spoke model to reach urban, suburban, and rural communities. Since taking office, the Shapiro Administration has invested more than $85 million in overdose prevention, treatment, and recovery, including workforce development, telehealth-only treatment licenses, mobile opioid treatment units, and a new state health center in Wyoming County.
Officials say those investments are bolstered by billions of dollars in opioid settlement funds secured by Shapiro during his tenure as attorney general.
Residents seeking help can call the PA Get Help Now helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or locate services through Treatment Atlas. More information on the state’s overdose prevention efforts is available at https://www.dap.pa.gov .
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