Fentanyl in Saucon kills, but alcohol kills more

I think you’d be hard-pressed to say that Saucon Valley and Freemansburg have an especially localized problem with the infamous synthetic opioid, fentanyl.

Based on new figures shared by Northampton County Coroner Dr. Zachary Lysek with My Private Hellertown following a right-to-know (RTK) request, you can see that while there have been a steady number of fentanyl-caused deaths over the last three years in Northampton County, a relatively small number—that we know of—occurred in Saucon/Freemansburg:

2021 – 87 total drug deaths.

Of those, 66 had fentanyl or an analog thereof.

Of the 87 total drug deaths, two residents (of Hellertown, L. Saucon, Freemansburg) died in their homes, and one non-resident died within the region.

Of the municipal deaths, two had fentanyl, and one did not have fentanyl.

2020 – 91 total drug deaths

Of those, 63 had fentanyl or an analog thereof.

Of the 91 deaths, two residents (of Hellertown, L. Saucon, Freemansburg) died in their homes, and no non-residents died within the region.

Of the municipal deaths, one had fentanyl, and one did not have fentanyl.

2019 – 73 total drug deaths

Of those, 50 had fentanyl or an analog thereof.

Of the 73 deaths, four residents (of Hellertown, L. Saucon, Freemansburg) died in their homes, and one non-resident died within the region.

Of the municipal deaths, three had fentanyl, and two did not have fentanyl.*

That’s about three deaths a year caused by fentanyl. If you’re a loved one or friend of one of these tragicaly lost residents, the numbers mean nothing.

But the fact is, alcohol abuse probably is a bigger killer. Extrapolating from state figures, we can estimate about about seven or eight Saucon Valley/Freemansburg residents die annually directly due to the acute or chronic effects of alcohol abuse. This doesn’t count alcohol-fueled accidents, overdoses, suicides, etc.

Image CC licensed

• Statement from Northampton County Coroner’s Office