Overdoses Up 138 Percent In Montgomery County, Officials Say

Overdoses have drastically increased across Montgomery County over the past year as the county undergoes the worst overdose epidemic in its history, according to information provided by the District Attorney's Office.

Thus far in 2016, there have been 260 overdoses and 85 deaths. In 2015 altogether, there were 187 overdoses and 78 deaths in 12 months. That's a 1238 percent increase into 2016.

The vast majority of overdoses are from heroin and other opioids, the DA said.

"There is no community that is immune to this tragedy," DA Kevin Steele said, pointing to how the epidemic has spread across the nation. It's killing far too many people."

Roughly 70 percent of law enforcement agencies in the county 33 out of 49 - are now carrying naloxone, an overdose reversal drug provided to police at no charge by the DA's office. Immediately administering naloxone can reverse overdoses of heroin, opioids, and fentanyl, the DA said.

Steele added that the goal is to have all departments carry the drug. In nearby Chester County, all but one police force carries naloxone. It's not only drug abusers that could need it, too. Some opioids could be accidentally inhaled by officers.

"Given the emergence of fentanyl, an officer or his K-9 partner could accidentally inhale it while securing drug evidence and go into respiratory distress," Steele said.

The following departments are outfitted with the drug: Abington, Conshohocken, Douglass, Hatboro, Hatfield, Jenkintown, Lansdale, Limerick, Lower Gwynedd, Lowe Merion, Lower Pottsgrove, Lower Providence, Lower Salford, Marlyborough, Montgomery, Narberth, New Hanover, Norristown, North Wales, Pottstown, Royersford, Springfield, Towamencin, Upper Gwynedd, Upper Merion, Upper Perkiomen, Upper Pottsgrove, Upper Providence, West Conshohocken, West Norriton, West Pottsgrove, Whitemarsh, and Whitpain.

Patch file photo.