NEWS: COCA Working to Fight Rising Overdose Deaths in Berks County

Berks County recently got some disappointing news. Overdose deaths across the county rose in 2019, with preliminary data reporting 121 fatalities compared to only 95 the previous year. This is the highest number of drug-related deaths on record for the county. Council on Chemical Abuse Executive Director Stanley Papademetriou discussed those findings at the St. Xenia Philoptochos Society of Reading’s February meeting, where he was the featured speaker.

His presentation, which was covered in the Reading Eagle, included details about the rise in the opioid epidemic, both nationally and across Berks County. He provided information about local programs and initiatives to fight the opioid epidemic. He stressed that there is reason to hope.

“People do get better from this, they really do,” he said.

Read the full Reading Eagle article here.

Reading Eagle Photo of COCA Executive Director Stanley Papademetriou speaking at St. Xenia Philoptochos Society of Reading.

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