Fatal overdoses continue to climb in Schuylkill County.

Schuylkill County Coroner David J. Moylan III said Friday there are “114 drug-related deaths in Schuylkill County for 2020 with laboratory (results) pending on several cases.”

In 2019 there were 92 drug-related deaths, he said.

“It’s an epidemic. Could it be related to COVID, possibly,” Moylan said about the higher deaths.

Details of the drugs found in the decedents was not mentioned.

The website overdosefreepa.pitt.edu provides county level data from 2015 to 2019. However, some 2019 data could be incomplete until additional information is provided, according to the website.

The following drug overdose deaths are reported on the site for Schuylkill County: 25 in 2015; 59 in 2016; 47 in 2017; 77 in 2018; and 91 in 2019.

In all, 65 percent of those who died of drug overdoses were males. Most of those who died where white. Those between the ages of 25 to 34, 35 to 44 and 45 to 54 account for 69 percent of overdose deaths.

Fentanyl is the most common drug found, followed by methamphetamine and heroin.