Erie County leaders gave a stern warning at an Opiate Task Force update Tuesday following new data indicating, after years of decline, opioid-related overdose deaths are increasing.

Last year, the county saw 156 deaths. So far this year, there have been 44 confirmed opiate overdose deaths, and 127 pending cases.

If those all end up being confirmed, there will be more deaths already this year than all of 2019.

The Opiate Epidemic Task Force says the increase in overdoses comes from using cocaine laced with fentanyl.

Additonally, officials say they are seeing a spike in deaths especially among cocaine users who are older in age.

"It is disconcerning after all the work that we've done for the last few years to see opiate overdose deaths rise and what is most concerning is that it appears to be not from traditional opioid users --those who use heroine, those who use other forms of opiate, but from those who are using cocaine," said Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz. "We know now that cocaine is spiked with fentanyl to the point that some cocaine is all fentanyl and its basically and instantaneous death for all who ingest it."

The spike in numbers may not be specific to just Erie County. According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 71,000 people died from drug overdoses last year, up from 67,000 in 2018.

Synthetic opioids like Fentanyl can be deadly when mixed with other drugs. Experts say even regular users can miscalculate the dose.

Experts say the phenomenon of social distancing with the deteriorating of the economy is putting pressures on individuals who are in recovery.

"People are at home, they are alone, struggle with so many losses and argue using cocaine as recreational, something fun,” said Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein. “Not realizing about the dangers. So we have to understand that every time you buy some product on the street, any white powder can have fentanyl in it. With our numbers here it is like rolling the dice...it is a 50/50 chance."

Burstein said people should carry Narcan with them at all times, a nasal spray that can treat a narcotic overdose in an emergency situation. To receive it, text 716.225.5473 and say you would like Narcan, no questions asked.