Fatal Overdoses
The following section features overdose death data from Philadelphia's Medical Examiner's Office. Unintentional overdose deaths include deaths that were determined to be accidental drug-related deaths by Philadelphia's Medical Examiner's Office. Philadelphia's Medical Examiner's Office examines all overdose deaths that occur within Philadelphia. This data does not include overdose deaths of Philadelphia residents that occurred outside of Philadelphia.
Philadelphia County Deaths by Year
The largest percent increase in overdose deaths occurred between 2016 and 2017.
The large percent increase between 2016 and 2017 may be attributed to the opioid prescribing guidelines issued by the CDC and the resulting change in the availability of prescription opioids.
Drug Groups
Drugs Involved
Drug involvement is not mutually exclusive; one decedent may have had more than one drug detected in toxicology.
Fentanyl
Of note, fentanyl has nearly replaced heroin in Philadelphia's illicit drug market.
Age Group
The average age of overdose decedents has increased compared to earlier years of the overdose crisis.
The increase in average age may be attributed to more individuals who had stimulants involved were of older age.
Birth Sex
Race / Ethnicity
As counts under 10 are suppressed, counts of decedents whose race and/or ethnicity was not non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic White, or Hispanic or was unknown are not shown.