HARRISBURG, Pa. — A new Pennsylvania law will require EMS providers to report suspected overdose incidents beginning in 2026, a move state officials say could improve overdose tracking and help identify dangerous drug trends sooner.
The data will be submitted to a statewide mapping system operated by the Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Capital-Star reported.
The change stems from a new law sponsored by Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Franklin). He said the Overdose Information Network previously relied largely on law enforcement reports, missing an estimated 80% of fatal and nonfatal overdoses where EMS responded, according to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
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Mastriano said centralized reporting could help first responders identify dangerous “bad batches” of drugs, including those with high levels of fentanyl.
Pennsylvania recorded 4,719 overdose deaths and 37,371 nonfatal suspected overdoses in 2023, state health data shows. Deaths fell 29% in 2024 to 3,341, though the latest report does not list a nonfatal total.
Senate Bill 89, now Act 18, passed unanimously and was signed in June. It took effect on Jan. 1. A separate Mastriano bill, Senate Bill 92, cleared the Senate in April on a 33-16 vote and would create a mandatory 25-year minimum sentence for selling fentanyl that results in a death, aiming to prevent dealers from receiving reduced sentences.
