In Pennsylvania there were 4,719 drug overdose deaths in 2023. Of those, 82.9% were opioid-related and 76.4% involved fentanyl.

That includes 14 drug deaths in Carbon County, 33 in Schuylkill, 35 in Northampton and 72 in Lehigh County. Numbers for Monroe County were not available on the Pennsylvania Office of Drug Surveillance and Misuse Prevention site.

For the month of September, we’re asking people to write letters about what you think should be done to solve the drug crisis. Letters should adhere to our policy. They must be signed, with contact information for us to verify letters.

Keep letters to 350 words, please.

Letters written on this topic do not count against the readers’ monthly letter.

Submit your letters via email on our website at https://www.tnonline.com/customerservice/contactus/submit-letter or mail to Times News, 594 Blakeslee Blvd. Drive W., Lehighton, PA 18235. Electronically submitted letters have a faster processing time.

We reserve the right to reject any letter that is libelous or does not fit with our format. We are under no obligation to print letters received. Questions? Email tneditor@tnonline.com.