Pennsylvania released its Overdose Prevention Program Annual Report highlighting how naloxone and drug checking tools provided by the Administration are saving thousands of lives, fostering community partnerships, and reducing stigma surrounding substance use and overdose prevention in Pennsylvania.
The Overdose Prevention Program is a statewide initiative led by the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) to expand access to naloxone and drug checking tools to prevent fatal overdoses and strengthen overdose response.
Between January 2025 and September 2025, frontline organizations reported nearly 9,500 overdose reversals. The reversals are linked to naloxone distributed through the program, representing real-world use of these tools during overdose events and thousands of lives saved through timely intervention. Early estimates show that in 2025, Pennsylvania saw the fewest overdose deaths in more than a decade.
“DDAP’s Overdose Prevention Program is the foundation of our efforts to having fewer overdose deaths while contributing to stronger public health outcomes statewide,” said DDAP Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones.
The program operates through a hub-and-spoke distribution model. Regional overdose prevention partners – the hubs – receive, store, and distribute supplies to local organizations, service providers, and individuals – the spokes – within their communities. This structure ensures that overdose prevention resources reach both urban and rural areas efficiently, with targeted support for communities at highest risk of overdose.
Through nearly 100 statewide partners, DDAP distributed nearly 800,000 doses of naloxone and 737,000 fentanyl and xylazine test strips in 2025. Partners reached individuals in clinical settings, recovery programs, libraries, churches, campuses, drop-boxes, mail-based distribution, mobile outreach, and other places. The supplies were provided directly to the people most likely to witness or experience an overdose, including individuals who use drugs, family members, peers, and service providers.
“The Pennsylvania Overdose Prevention Program has strengthened our community outreach and engagement efforts. Through consistent access to naloxone and testing strips, we’ve equipped partners with life-saving resources, increased public awareness, and helped prevent fatal overdoses across high-risk areas,” said Health Program Administrator Todd Nickelsberg, Philadelphia Single County Authority. “The program’s structure and support have expanded our prevention work with greater confidence and sustainability.”
All overdose prevention partners can be located through DDAP’s website.
