Suicide, accidental deaths in Westmoreland declined in 2024, says Coroner

The Westmoreland Community and Prevention Director, Tim Phillips knows that the county is doing something correct in its efforts to reduce accidental drug overdose deaths.

In 2024 there was a decrease of almost 15% of these deaths, according to the annual report of the westmoreland coroner published on Tuesday – which also noted the reductions of drugs, suicide and traffic accidents.

Eighty -one people died due to an accidental drug overdose, decreasing from 95 deaths in 2023. It was the lowest number of such deaths in 2012, when 78 people died. The report shows a sharp downward trend from 2021, when this figure hit 168.

The powerful opioid fentanel remains the main contributor to the deaths by overdose; Was present in 62 cases. Xilazine, a quiet veterinarian, was the second largest taxpayer, being present in 34 cases.

There were 57 people who died by suicide, marking the second consecutive year in which this number decreased since hitting a maximum of 62 in 2022.

There were 20 victims related to traffic accidents compared to 26 precedent year. This is the second smallest issue of 2007, behind 2018, when there were 18 deaths related to traffic.

“Difficult to identify”

“It is difficult to identify, but I would like to say that increasing the efforts to reduce the damages-Including our distribution has made a difference,” said Phillips.

Opioid overdose naloxone is available for residents to rise to Phillips’s office, but the Community Relations and Prevention Department also handles it to the treatment centers, law enforcement, local business owners and county prison. He said that every detailed prison detailed is provided with drugs.

Phillips’s office also offers kits that can be used to test drugs for the presence of xylazine and fentanyl.

“We want to keep everyone as safely as possible. Unfortunately, we will not stop people from using drugs, ”said Phillips. “But if people use, we want them to be able to use safely.

“Personally, I would like to recover them,” he said, “but the dead people can’t go to recovery.”

Westmoreland County continues to receive its reduction Multimile settlements This dispute has resolved against drug producers and distributors accused of spreading opioid abuses throughout the country.

Some of the funds have supported students’ assistance programs and local school districts, such as Sage’s army. Mutual help received funding to store their ambulances with Nitric oxidea nonnarcotic pain reliever.

“Remove the word”

Coroner Tim Carson indicated a multitude of prevention efforts based on the community and support that could have had an impact on lowering these numbers-including the support of a team that is responsible to help family members after the death by suicide.

13 mocking accidents were organized in the county last year, about which Carson said he had an impact on driving habits. Alcohol was a factor in 30% of fatal traffic accidents.

“I think this helps to eliminate the word, especially young people, the dangers of driving and using drugs and not using seat belts,” he said.

The total house of the office in 2024 was 3,158, about twice as much as in 2010. Most were natural deaths. The autopsies were performed in 131 cases. There were 81 additional cases in which only toxicology was performed.