Local overdose deaths drop as Naloxone distribution expands | News, Sports, Jobs

Graphic courtesy of Pennsylvania Drug and Alcohol
Pictured is the number of overdose deaths per 10,000 population as recorded in 2023.

LEWISTOWN — Fewer lives are being lost to overdoses across Pennsylvania, and the same holds true in Mifflin and Juniata counties, where access to naloxone and other harm reduction tools continues to grow.

According to state data, Mifflin County recorded six overdose deaths in 2024, down from 13 in 2021, while Juniata County reported none. That local trend mirrors the statewide decline cited in the 2025 Overdose Prevention Program Annual Report, which credited widespread naloxone distribution and expanded harm reduction efforts for saving thousands of lives.

The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs’ initiative distributed almost 800,000 doses of naloxone and 737,000 fentanyl and xylazine test strips statewide in 2025. Between January and September, nearly 9,500 overdose reversals were reported, marking Pennsylvania’s lowest fatal overdose total in more than a decade.

Locally, those numbers translate into direct, visible impact.

“We have been distributing Narcan for free from our office for many years now,” said Kristin Lindsey, prevention specialist for the Juniata Valley Tri-County Drug & Alcohol Abuse Commission, which represents Mifflin, Juniata and Huntingdon counties. “Every year, we increase the amount we distribute through the three counties. In 2025, we distributed 1,201 boxes of Narcan, up from 1,100 the year before.”

The Commission’s numbers show steady growth in distribution: 153 boxes in 2019, 224 in 2020, 478 in 2021, 888 in 2022, 981 in 2023, 1,108 in 2024, and 1,201 in 2025. Lindsey said those numbers reflect both need and accessibility.

“We absolutely love the program and how it gets Narcan in the hands of EMS, schools, jails, local agencies and individuals,” she said. “The state makes it a seamless process to order and receive Narcan in a matter of days.”

The Commission supplies Narcan, the brand name for naloxone, to schools, police, EMS, jails, probation offices, child and youth agencies, Juniata College, and individuals who request it. Lindsey said it’s no longer seen as a controversial measure but as a community necessity.

“It’s seen more as a first-aid type thing than just trying to save people here and there,” she said. “The jails now have it on hand; the (children, youth and families) agencies carry it with them. It’s helped reduce the stigma in our counties.”

The Mifflin County District Attorney’s Office has seen the same shift.

“Our region is following statewide trends,” said District Attorney Chris Torquato. “Naloxone has been available within the county, and it has served to reduce and reverse overdose deaths.”

Lindsey’s office also provides fentanyl and xylazine test strips, simple tools that can identify whether a drug sample contains the deadly synthetic opioid or the animal tranquilizer known as xylazine, sometimes called “tranq.”

“Fentanyl’s the big problem now,” she said. “And we’ve added test strips for both fentanyl and xylazine. Xylazine is a veterinary tranquilizer that’s being mixed into fentanyl, meth, and cocaine. It’s extremely dangerous, and people don’t always realize it’s there.”

The Commission’s work extends beyond distribution. Through its case management services, it connects people to local providers and treatment programs, regardless of insurance status. Case managers are embedded throughout Mifflin, Juniata, and Huntingdon counties, including probation offices, jails, courts, and treatment centers such as Senclear and Mainstream Counseling.

“It’s been extremely helpful getting people into services without them having to travel to Lewistown,” Lindsey said. “We’ll take everybody, and anybody, regardless of insurance or lack thereof.”

Pennsylvania has invested more than $85 million in overdose prevention, treatment and recovery initiatives. That includes $40 million in student loan repayment to retain addiction professionals, $20 million for drop-in centers, and more than $6 million to expand outreach to communities of color.

“The Overdose Prevention Program is the foundation of our efforts to have fewer overdose deaths while contributing to stronger public health outcomes statewide,” said Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones in a statement accompanying the annual report. “We’re seeing progress because the administration is investing in proven life-saving strategies.”

Pennsylvania’s numbers reflect those investments. The state recorded 3,341 drug overdose deaths in 2024, down 29% from 2023. That figure is nearly 40% lower than the 2017 peak, when 5,429 Pennsylvanians died of overdoses.

Lindsey said the focus remains simple: get Narcan into as many hands as possible.

“People are carrying it now,” she said. “We hear about residents using Narcan to save someone’s life because they had it on them from our office. That’s what this is all about, making sure it’s available anywhere somebody might need it.”

Residents seeking help with substance use or recovery can contact the Pennsylvania Get Help Now helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or visit the Juniata Valley Tri-County Drug & Alcohol Abuse Commission office in Lewistown for free naloxone and harm reduction supplies.