Fentanyl Chief Culprit In Pittsburgh-Area Drug Deaths

PITTSBURGH, PA — Allegheny County drug deaths last year were at their lowest number since 2019, according to final 2023 overdose death statistics released Wednesday by county Chief Medical Examiner Ariel Goldschmidt.

The vast majority of the deaths - 82 percent - involved the use of fentanyl.

The 665 overdose deaths last year are about a 4 percent decrease from the 641 that occurred in 2022 and represent a 20 percent decrease of more than 20 percent from the recent high of 835 in 2018.

“We’re pleased to see that Allegheny County can report a slight decrease in 2023 overdoses over 2022 numbers, which also follows a national trend of a decrease in overdose fatalities,” Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Ariel Goldschmidt said.

Overdose deaths accounted for 26 percent of all deaths (665 of 2,577) under the Medical Examiner Office's jurisdiction.

The vast majority of 2023 overdose deaths - 567 or 85 percent - involved more than one drug being present. Fentanyl and cocaine were the drugs found most commonly, regardless of whether there was one drug or multiple drugs present.

The ages involved in fatal overdoses ranged from three cases involving people under the age of 14 to 54 deaths of individuals 65 or older. There were 181 deaths among those aged 35-44, the highest number for an individual age group.

Caucasian males continue to be the most common demographic group to experience a fatal overdose. However, while white overdose deaths decreased by 10 percent, black overdose deaths increased 17 percent over 2022 numbers.