Gov. Tom Wolf first issued a disaster declaration in January 2018 after Pennsylvania set a record for opioid deaths, then renewed it more than a dozen times.
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s opioid disaster declaration was set to expire on Wednesday after state lawmakers, newly empowered to help manage statewide emergencies, declined the governor’s request for another extension.
Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf first issued a disaster declaration in January 2018 after Pennsylvania set a record for opioid deaths, then renewed it more than a dozen times as the state battled an epidemic that has worsened during the coronavirus pandemic.
Wolf needed legislative approval to extend it again after Pennsylvania voters gave the General Assembly more say over the length of a disaster declaration and the management of it. Those measures appeared on the May primary ballot after Wolf tangled with conservatives and business owners over his COVID-19 restrictions.
The Republican-controlled General Assembly rejected Wolf’s request to renew the opioid disaster declaration beyond Wednesday, saying it was no longer necessary since many of its benefits have been accomplished through legislation, executive action, and other means. GOP leaders in the House and Senate said the opioid crisis will be a “top legislative priority” in the fall.
After falling nearly 20%, overdose deaths are up again. More than 5,000 people died of drug overdoses in 2020, second to the record set in 2017, according to the Wolf administration.
“Unfortunately, the isolation and disruption caused by the pandemic over the past year and half has also caused a heartbreaking increase in substance use disorder and overdose deaths,” Wolf said in a written statement Wednesday, adding: “With or without a disaster declaration, this will remain a top priority of my administration.”
RELATED: How the COVID-19 Pandemic is Enabling Opioid Addiction
Politics
Gov. Shapiro is bringing period products back to Pennsylvania’s public schools
In his budget proposal, Gov. Josh Shapiro has called for $3 million to be set aside to provide period products to all public school students free of...
Abandoned oil and gas wells are making Pennsylvanians sick. Rep. Summer Lee has a fix
The US House passed Congresswoman Summer Lee’s bipartisan bill to tackle abandoned oil and gas wells. Pennsylvania leads the country in abandoned...
100,000 PA residents to benefit from American Rescue Plan’s broadband expansion projects
The Shapiro administration announced earlier this month it is distributing $204 million from the American Rescue Plan for high-speed internet...
Local News
What do you know about Wawa? 7 fun facts about Pennsylvania’s beloved convenience store
Wawa has 60 years of Pennsylvania roots, and today the commonwealth’s largest private company has more than 1,000 locations along the east coast....
Conjoined twins from Berks County die at age 62
Conjoined twins Lori and George Schappell, who pursued separate careers, interests and relationships during lives that defied medical expectations,...