County representatives discussed the rise of fentanyl, overdose deaths, and how the Opioid Overdose Coalition is working to combat substance abuse during the second day of its summer conference Wednesday, Aug. 9.

The event’s final day featured speakers from law enforcement and the county Drug and Alcohol Program speaking on the accomplishments of the coalition, as well as sharing resources and statistics on addiction and prevention.

District Attorney Richard Goldinger led off the event by speaking about how certain drugs have gained popularity.

“When I came in, we saw heroin; that was our main issue,” he said. “About five years ago, we started seeing fentanyl ... heroin disappeared from the streets.”

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, has been responsible for most overdose deaths in Butler County the past two years, according to statistics shared in a presentation by Donna Jenereski, director of the Single County Authority’s drug and alcohol programs.

In 2017, there were 92 overdose deaths in Butler County, with 66% attributed to fentanyl.

Overdose deaths decreased to 73 in 2020, with 84% involving fentanyl.

In 2022, 66 people died of overdoses. Statistics showed fentanyl was present in the systems of 92% of them.

“All but four (fatalities in 2022) were fentanyl related,” Goldinger said. “To this point in 2023, there are 22 confirmed overdoses in Butler, and all but four were fentanyl related.”

Fentanyl is being seen more and more by law enforcement, he added, and is often being mixed with cocaine, heroin or xylazine, an animal tranquilizer.

According to Goldinger, crystal methamphetamine is also being seen on the streets.

“It certainly is a problem in our community,” he said.

Jenereski said the Single County Authority coordinates federal funding and distributes it locally for addiction assessment and treatment. This care can range from outpatient services to halfway houses and hospital-based detoxification treatment.

The county’s probation office or the court system refer people who are struggling with substance abuse to their drug and alcohol programs, according to Jenereski.

She listed popular drugs of choice for substance abuse in Butler County, citing cocaine and fentanyl, but said alcohol is still high on the list.

She also mentioned xylazine being a drug that just recently made the frequent use list, first appearing in 2020.

“Every person, regardless of what they are using and what they are doing, deserves a chance to receive treatment,” Jenereski said.

Lisa Gill, a prevention specialist, said their goals focus on providing training, increasing community awareness and ensuring people have access to supportive recovery.

One of the ways they do that is giving presentations to Butler County school districts. Gill said upward of 5,000 students heard presentations from prevention representatives while at school.

She also said the prevention office prioritizes programs focused around the dangers of alcohol use and vaping, as children are being exposed to drug use at an earlier age.

“We ask (younger children), ‘What is a drug?’...I’ve now had three little girls say, ‘That’s what killed my older brother,’” Gill said.

Following the conference, Gill added that the coalition itself has grown significantly in a variety of ways.

“I would say (we’ve grown) in consistency we have with our members who continually show up and do things and see how important the work is,” she said.

Goldinger presented another way to combat substance abuse in Butler County that could be implemented in a few months: the Law Enforcement Treatment Initiative.

Created by the Office of the Attorney General, the initiative would allow law enforcement to make referrals to the Single County Authority’s programs.

“The purpose is to get more people in treatment and promote public safety,” Goldinger said. “It’s another tactic we can use to help people.”

He explained the initiative would allow police officers to refer repeat offenders, or people committing crimes because of addiction, to treatment through the Single County Authority.

Magistrates and public defenders can also have an opportunity to refer defendants, Goldinger said.

The initiative also could provide incentives for defendants if they complete addiction treatment.

“Upon successful completion of treatment, we could possibly give people an opportunity to have charges reduced, or dismissed, depending on the case,” Goldinger said.

The initiative should go into effect in the coming months, according to Goldinger, and has been implemented by other counties across Pennsylvania.

The Law Enforcement Treatment Initiative would be an additional line of defense, as the court system has implemented three other programs for people struggling with addiction.

The three additional courts have been implemented over the past 10 years, Goldinger said.

Drug treatment court and veterans court both provide defendants with intense treatment plans for certain substance abuse struggles, while behavioral health court is for people who received criminal charges as a result of a mental health incident.