NEWS: Recent Opioid-Related Overdoses

As of Sunday 4/10, overdoses were reported over the weekend with 16 hospitalizations and 4 deaths according to the Reading Eagle. Patients presented to the Hospital with symptoms of overdose from a combination of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine. 

The police continue to do their job of removing drugs from the streets. Fentanyl continues to be a common denominator with overdoses in recent years.  

“Our hearts go out to the families who lost loved ones this weekend. This weekend shows us the unfortunate reality that the opioid epidemic is still affecting our community,” said Stanley Papademetriou, Executive Director.  

Recently, County commissioners authorized the Council on Chemical Abuse (COCA) to manage and distribute more than $16.3 million over the next two decades from the settlement of a national lawsuit against certain pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors. The money is part of a larger $26 billion nationwide settlement against the drug companies for their role in fueling the opioid crisis. 

Read more about the opioid settlement plan here: https://cocaberks.org/news-opioid-settlement-plan/