Report shows slowing in hospital admission rates for overdoses

(Harrisburg) — A recent report on hospital admissions for drug overdoses in Pennsylvania gives reason for cautious optimism regarding the opioid epidemic.

The report from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council found admissions for heroin overdoses increased by nearly 13 percent last year.

That’s actually a slower rate than other years since 2011, which saw 24 percent increases on average.

The council’s executive director Joe Martin told WITF’s Smart Talk more study is needed.

“We need more data, we need better data in order to know if this is a trend, or if it’s simply an aberration of some sort,” Martin said. 

One bright spot: admissions for pain medication overdoses decreased by about two percent.

In total, medical stays for opioid overdoses cost $32 million in 2017.

You can hear the full conversation here.