Wolf extends opioid disaster declaration through Aug. 26

HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Wolf has renewed the opioid disaster declaration for a 15th time to continue the state’s fight against the opioid and heroin epidemic that claimed thousands of lives from overdose deaths in the past year and a half.

Unlike his previous renewals of this disaster declaration first issued in January 2018 that lasted 90 days, this one will last just 21 days in accordance with a constitutional amendment voters approved in May. Voters also approved another change to the constitution to allow the General Assembly to extend or end a disaster declaration by a simple majority vote.

Mr. Wolf sent a letter to lawmakers last week encouraging them to return to Harrisburg this month to vote to extend this disaster declaration to allow for a renewal of collective efforts around the opioid crisis. Without a further extension, he said that could hinder the inter-agency sharing of information through the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.

Spokespeople for the

Republican leaders of the GOP-controlled Legislature said on Tuesday they would begin discussions this week about the governor’s request. Neither chamber is scheduled to return to session until next month.

“As we see a spike in overdoses throughout the commonwealth, there has never been a more important time to concentrate our efforts in helping individuals with substance use disorder, especially opioid use disorder,” Mr. Wolf said in a statement. “This ongoing public health crisis has been exacerbated by the COVID- 19 pandemic. It takes coordination from staff and resources to support and sustain our response across Pennsylvania.”

Among the actions taken to address the opioid epidemic are the launching of the Life Unites Us campaign to destigmatize substance abuse disorders, the creation of the Office of Drug Surveillance and Misuse Prevention in the Department of Health that has reduced opioid prescriptions by 40%, and establishing a program to equip first responders with the skills to respond and fight the opioid epidemic.

Preliminary numbers show there have been at least 5,063 drug overdose deaths in this state from 2020 through July 21 of this year. In 2019, there were 4,458. In 2017, there were 5,402 overdose deaths in Pennsylvania.

“Each of these numbers represent our family members, loved ones, and neighbors,” Mr. Wolf said. “They deserve every effort to ensure access to quality treatment and recovery supports to give them the best opportunity to have sustained recovery from substance use disorder.”