Prescription drug abuse continues to be on the rise across the nation, and Erie County has not escaped that trend. Through education and programing, we can better combat this problem as a community.
The Erie County Department of Health works to educate physicians and health-care professionals on proper prescribing, which includes making sure patients are being prescribed proper medications as well as appropriate doses.
The department also offers education to residents on medication safety, which includes proper storage, proper adherence and proper disposal of prescription drugs. Residents are also urged to make use of 13 Medication Return Units stationed at various locations around Erie County. The medication collected in these units are properly destroyed, helping to prevent misuse.
The department also provides poison prevention presentations and activities for schools and local organizations. These presentations are geared towards teaching children the difference between safe and harmful substances, and what they should do if they ever come across anything they don’t recognize.