Centre County DA: 3 people have died from suspected drug overdoses in the past week
Three suspected drug overdose deaths reported since Thursday are being investigated by police in Centre County, the county district attorney’s office said Wednesday.
The first death was reported Thursday, while the following two were reported Friday and Tuesday, county District Attorney Bernie Cantorna said in a media release.
Two of the deaths were reported in Patton Township, Chief Tyler Jolley said. Cantorna declined to say where the third death was reported, or what drugs are suspected to have caused the deaths.
Causes of death will not be determined until toxicology results are returned to the Centre County coroner’s office. Results are typically returned in four to six weeks.
“The Patton Township Police Department wants the public to be aware of the increased risk of an overdose,” Jolley said in a media release. “Anyone using a substance purchased off the street is at risk of an overdose.”
Four drug overdose deaths and one suicide by overdose were confirmed in Centre County this year, Cantorna said. An average of 17 drug overdose deaths were reported annually from 2013 until 2018 in Centre County.
“Citizens are encouraged to call 911 if they encounter someone in an overdose situation,” Cantorna said in a statement. “The use of naloxone is lifesaving and reverses the symptoms from an opioid overdose.”
This story was originally published December 18, 2019 at 1:42 PM.