The Erie County Health Department, in collaboration with the Perkins Township Police Department and Inmar Intelligence, recently hosted a community drug take-back event at the Walmart in Perkins Township.
The initiative resulted in the successful collection and safe disposal of 18.5 pounds of unused or expired medications, according to a news release.
The Erie County Health Department, in collaboration with the Perkins Township Police Department and Inmar Intelligence, hosted a community drug take-back event This was one of the boxes that was weighed. (Submitted)
While prescription weights vary based on the length of the supply, this total represents approximately 300 individual prescriptions that were properly disposed of, the release said.
By removing these items from the community, the Health Department ensures they will not wind up in the wrong hands or contaminate the local water supply, according to the release.
The event also focused on harm reduction and prevention.
Health Department staff distributed Narcan, a life-saving medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, along with Deterra drug-deactivation pouches, which allow residents to safely dispose of medications at home, the release said.
“Seeing 18.5 pounds of medication taken out of medicine cabinets and off the streets is amazing,” said Irina Buga, public health educator and grant coordinator for the Strategic Prevention Framework program, in the release. “This event was a vital part of our Strategic Prevention Framework grant work, allowing us to meet people where they are and provide the tools necessary to prevent accidental poisonings and misuse.”
This event was a key component of the Strategic Prevention Framework grant, a program dedicated to reducing substance misuse and strengthening community prevention efforts, the release said.
“Our mission is to protect the health and well-being of every resident in Erie County,” said Peter Schade, commissioner of the Erie County Health Department, in the release. “Collaborations like this one with Perkins Police (Department) and Inmar Intelligence show that when we work together, we can make a measurable impact.”
The partnership between local law enforcement and public health remains a cornerstone of Erie County’s strategy to combat the opioid epidemic, the release said.