Fentanyl’s deadly grip on Erie County is tightening.
Four out of five people who died from a drug overdose in 2021 had the powerful, toxic synthetic opioid in their systems, according to year-end data released by Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook late last week.
This is a notable jump from last year, when fentanyl played a role in three out of four drug-related deaths in 2020. And it’s the continuation of a sobering trend that has seen fentanyl’s presence in the county’s drug-related deaths rise from 40% in 2016 — the first time Cook listed the drug in its annual coroner’s reports — according to Cooks Data to 54% in 2017, 62% in 2018 and 60% in 2019.
Erie County’s total drug-related deaths of 102 in 2021 increased from 80 drug-related deaths in 2020. Last year’s number was the highest number of drug-related deaths since a record 124 deaths in 2017.
A breakdown of the drugs found
Fentanyl, which the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration says is 80 to 100 times more potent than morphine, was developed and applied to the skin via patches to treat pain in cancer patients, according to the federal agency’s website.
But the drug is also abused, typically by adding it to heroin to increase its potency, or disguised as high-potency heroin, according to the DEA.
“Many users believe they are buying heroin and are unaware that they are buying fentanyl – which often leads to overdose deaths,” according to the information on the DEA website.
Cook said the presence of heroin found in toxicology tests on victims of Erie County drug deaths is now “almost non-existent.” Heroin was present in 6% of drug-related deaths in 2021, compared to 10% in 2020, 16% in 2019, 27% in 2018 and 26% in 2017, according to data from the Erie County Coroner’s Office.
Erie County is seeing a spike in fatal drug overdosesErie Police Chief Dan Spizarny expressed optimism in August, speaking of a rise in reported drug overdoses
Another notable drug found in 35% of drug-related deaths in Erie County last year was methamphetamine, according to Cook. The presence of the drug in deaths of earlier years was not noted in previous coroner reports.
According to the latest report, cocaine was present in just over a quarter of all drug-related deaths in 2021. Cook said none of the 102 drug-related death victims had a single drug in their system, but rather a mixture of drugs.
“The average is nine to 13 different drugs, but a lot of them contain things like caffeine,” Cook said. “Most are non-lethal.”
He added that some victims of drug deaths in 2021 had lethal levels of more than one drug in their systems.
The average age of drug-related deaths last year was 41. According to Cook’s data, almost three quarters were male and 85% were white.
“These aren’t teenagers or college kids,” he said. “The worrying thing is that these are people who are old enough and should know better.”
The increase in fentanyl-related drug deaths comes as local authorities continue to step up efforts to curb drug overdoses and curb the flow of illicit drugs into the Erie region.
A year ago, federal authorities designated Erie County as a high-intensity drug trafficking area, stating that the county was used by drug traffickers as a waypoint for large-scale drug distribution. The appointment would provide Erie County with resources and support to take down large drug trafficking organizations operating in the county, officials said.
In March, the Erie Police Department announced it had received a $459,576 federal grant, which it is using to investigate overdoses more closely, develop and expand user diversion programs, and expand drug prevention efforts for the city’s youth.
The Fed’s designation aids Erie’s drug warThe Erie Bureau of Police and its neighboring law enforcement agencies have struggled for years to stem the flow of illegal individuals
Grant to assist Erie Police Department in drug enforcementErie police want to know what’s driving the recent spike in drug overdoses.
Suicides are increasing, homicides are steadily increasing, traffic deaths are detailed
According to Cook, drugs contributed to 2% of the 45 suicides in Erie County in 2021. The number of people who took their own lives has skyrocketed in the past year from 36 in 2020.
Erie County averaged 53 suicides per year between 2016 and 2019, according to Coroner’s Office data.
Cook said it’s not uncommon for suicide numbers to vary across the county, noting that there are as many different reasons for suicide as there are people.
The 14 homicides in Erie County last year equaled the number of homicides in 2020. Twelve of the homicides occurred in Erie, and 12 of the total homicide victims died of gunshot wounds, according to Cook’s report.
According to Cook’s data, there were 17 motor vehicle fatalities in 2021, up from 20 the year before, with alcohol playing a role in 12% and drugs in 47% of fatal accidents. Seat belts were worn in 24% of accidents.
Accidents in Erie County killed five motorcyclists last year, up from three in 2020. Two of the accidents had drugs as a factor, one had alcohol as a factor, and three of the victims were not wearing helmets, according to Cook’s data.
Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNhahn.