Jan 29, 2025 4 min read

The opioid epidemic has devastated communities across Pennsylvania with lives lost, families shattered and neighborhoods destroyed.

Canonsburg has not been immune to the scourge, but we’ve stood the test of time. With addiction rates soaring and loved ones suffering, we have faced a public health crisis that has tested our limits and challenged our spirit.

During my 15-year tenure as mayor of this municipality, I have witnessed firsthand our community’s struggle with opioid addiction. In addition to my duties as an elected official, I’ve also served as a volunteer firefighter for the past 47 years. Overdose situations encountered by a first responder aren’t just statistics – these are family members, neighbors and friends. As a result, I have taken a personal interest in the epidemic.

Sadly, someone in Pennsylvania is dying every two hours from an overdose.

Nine years ago, Washington County made national news for recording eight overdose deaths in a little over an hour. The following year, the Washington County Opioid Overdose Coalition was formed. It has been a distinct honor to serve on the coalition – there are 40 members and we meet monthly, thinking proactively about recovery initiatives, the stigma tied to opioid disorder and law enforcement.

We have persevered with a holistic approach. There is help everywhere, with grassroots outreach programs and support groups, as well as local nonprofit organizations.

Locally, the Canonsburg-Houston Ministerial Association made an immediate impact by going into local churches and spreading the message of hope. There was so much initial denial about opioid addiction in our neighborhoods, that a change in perception was necessary. The crisis was real and action was required.

I participated as a speaker in this community engagement program and saw immediate dividends. What was originally envisioned as a 15-minute presentation before area congregations burgeoned into much more. Instead of pushing aside the realities associated with the epidemic, parishioners wanted to learn more and get involved. They realized how much was at stake, and sitting back and ignoring addiction was not an option.

Here in Canonsburg, I oversee our 18-person police department, where we partner with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). People often come to me or an officer, struggling with addiction or seeking help for a loved one. I am always telling our local residents, the goal isn’t to make an arrest – rather, our objective is to find an addict the help they need.

Along with the DEA, we have put together a successful drug takeback program, designed around prescription medicine. We started this initiative 15 years ago because we knew that addiction began in the medicine cabinet.

So far, we’ve had 29 events with an average intake of 190 pounds of drugs. One year, we collected nearly 700 pounds. We organize two takeback events a year, and we’re seeing the same amount of medicine collected. Beyond getting into the wrong hands, there are also other problems when pills aren’t disposed of properly, such as infiltrating our water system. As long as I’m here, this campaign will continue.

These are just a few of the steps we have taken to combat the crisis. It truly takes an army.

By taking a holistic approach, Canonsburg has been able to provide a robust safety net for our residents. One thing we must never forget is how we got here in the first place.

The epidemic was not caused by the actions of a few bad people but rather by a complex interplay of factors, including aggressive marketing by pharmaceutical companies, inadequate regulation, and societal stigma surrounding addiction.

The national consulting firm of McKinsey & Company recently reached a $650 million settlement with the U.S. Justice Department to resolve a federal investigation into the group’s opioid marketing practices. Profits should never be prioritized over lives.

Our community’s resilience underscores the importance of a multifaceted approach to recovery – one that combines support for family and friends, while seeking broader, systemic changes in public health, economic development and social cohesion. The epidemic hasn’t gone away, and if we don’t stay on top of the stigma, we’ll lose the fight.

As we continue to evolve in Canonsburg, our story is a reminder that even in the face of profound adversity, communities can adopt and thrive. By demonstrating that corporations will face consequences for their unethical and harmful practices, we can deter similar behavior in the future.

David Rhome is the mayor of Canonsburg