Unintentional Drug Overdose Fatalities in Philadelphia, 2021

Thus, racial surpassed the number of disparities in overdose fatalities, particularly among stimulant-involved deaths, are driving unintentional overdose the observed increase in overall unintentional overdose deaths in Philadelphia. [...] • Opioids, both with and without the presence of stimulants, were detected in 82% of overdose deaths in 2021. [...] In 2021, deaths in this zip code increased by 23% after declining 22% in the previous year • Other Philadelphia zip codes with the highest number of overdose fatalities in 2021 included 19140 (n=84), 19124 (n=80), 19133 (n=59), and 19132 (n=55) • Zip codes with the highest percent change in unintentional overdose deaths from 2020 to 2021 included 19141, 19124, 19149, and 19136. [...] Philadelphia Department of Public Health | October 2022 WHAT CAN BE DONE The Health Department is: • Continuing to support a city-wide overdose fatality review to better understand the circumstances surrounding unintentional overdose fatalities and make recommendations for system and policy level changes to better ensure the health and safety of Philadelphians who use substances. [...] In 2021, the median age of unintentional overdose death among NH White individuals was 40 [IQR 31-51], the median age of unintentional overdose death among NH Black individuals was 51 [IQR 40-58], and the median age of unintentional overdose death among Hispanic individuals was 41 [IQR 33-50].