The coroner for Cambria County said his office needs help to keep up with the workload.

With just two full-time employees and five part-time workers, Cambria County Coroner Jeff Lees said the rise in drug overdose deaths is taking a toll on his office.

“It’s not just the overdose numbers. It’s the call volume, in general, has astronomically increased. The overdose rate in our county, obviously, is a big factor in those numbers,” said Lees.

In 2016, there were 94 overdose deaths. In the first two months of 2017, there have already been 22 suspected overdose deaths, and that number is expected to rise.

Lees and the Cambria County Commissioners are working together to come up with possible solutions, like applying for grant funding.

They are also filling three part-time deputy coroner positions by relocating $15,000 from general county funds–triple from last year.

“This is just to alleviate, give people rest. At the Coroner’s office, they’re worked. They’re worked a lot,” said Tom Chernisky, President of the Cambria County Commissioners. 

Frank Duca runs Frank Duca Funeral Home in Westmont. He said he’s also seen an increase in drug overdose deaths and how it’s impacted the families of those who have died.

“They wake up with this nightmare and this nightmare continues until the final day when this overdose occurs. And that’s why it becomes such a long-term tragedy for these families,” Duca said.

In the future, Lees hopes to get more funding so the deputy coroners can work more hours.

In the meantime, county officials want to raise awareness about the opioid epidemic through prevention and education.