Narcotics (Opioids)

The increasing availability of illicit opioids is the most significant drug threat in Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Field Division (PFD) monitors this threat closely, periodically reviewing multiple data indicators, in conjunction with investigative information, to continually assess the threat, then share analytical findings with stakeholders in federal, state, and municipal governments.

Due to the efforts of DEA and our partners, from January 2017 through August 2020, we have seen the number of opioid prescriptions drop nearly 37 percent, a reduction in over 47 percent of opioids dispensed, and most importantly -- an 18 percent drop in prescription overdose deaths over the last two years.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Philadelphia Field Division (PFD) is advising law enforcement and public health counterparts of the increased availability of counterfeit controlled prescription drugs (CPDs) – commonly sold as legitimate CPDs with most containing fentanyl/ fentanyl-related compounds (FRC) – in Pennsylvania and Delaware.

The PDIP strives to maintain situational awareness of the threat posed by prescription opioids in Pennsylvania, and to share these analyses with stakeholders in federal, state, and municipal governments. In 2013, the PDIP published a Pharmaceutical Threat Assessment for Pennsylvania that found prescription opioid availability and abuse at epidemic levels. In 2016 and 2019, the PDIP published updated assessments detailing prescription opioid availability and abuse trends; this 2020 assessment builds on the previous analyses.

The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Philadelphia Field Division (PFD) Intelligence Program conducted an analysis of drug availability and abuse for the State of Delaware. This product highlights significant findings regarding various drug trends since last reported in 2017.

The primary drug threats identified in Delaware are illicit opioids, cocaine, controlled prescription drugs, and methamphetamine. The determination of drug threats in Delaware considers a variety of factors including: availability, threat to public health, community impact, attendant crime, enforcement activity, seizures, drug abuse and treatment statistics, and propensity for abuse.

The PFD Intelligence Program analyzed the following indicators in this assessment: illicit and controlled prescription drug availability; drug prices and purity; and fatal drug-related overdose data.

DEA's revised and updated drug fact sheet about the class of drugs known as synthetic opioids - what are they, what their origin is, what are common street names for these drugs, what do they look like, how they are abused, what their effect is on the minds and bodies of users including signs of overdose, and their legal status. 

DEA's revised and updated drug fact sheet about the opium - what it is and its history, what are its common street names, what it looks like, how it is abused, what its effect on the minds and bodies of users are including signs of overdose, and it legal status. 

DEA's revised and updated drug fact sheet about the class of drugs known as narcotics - what they are, what their origin is, what are the common street names for these drugs, what do they look like, how they are abused, what their effect is on the minds and bodies of users including signs of overdose, and their legal status. 

Since 2014, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Philadelphia Division Intelligence Program (PDIP) has annually collected and analyzed data and disseminated perceived trends and key findings that concern drug-related overdose deaths in Pennsylvania. This analysis has informed a multi-disciplinary audience relating to the drugs, populations, and geographic areas of greatest concern...