Erie County NY Opiate Epidemic Task Force

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2021

Erie County established its Opiate Epidemic Task Force in response to an alarming surge in opioid-related overdose deaths and overdoses. Recognizing that the situation called for decisive, immediate action, in 2016 Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz directed the Erie County Department of Health to create a framework of people and community agencies that would serve as the first-line and front-line for a comprehensive county-level response. This framework grew to include law enforcement, family and consumer advocates, medical providers, first responders, and substance use treatment providers, working hand-in-hand with county government. Initial goals included addressing opioid prescribing practices, access to inpatient, outpatient and community-based medication assisted treatment programs, police-assisted recovery, and distribution of Narcan. This endeavor grew to address and reduce the stigma associated with substance use disorder; collect and analyze data; establish a mortality review board; develop peer navigator programs;incorporate the lived experience of individuals living with a substance use disorder and their families; and, develop law enforcement and first responders as first-line, front-line connectors to community resources. Its primary focus remains: save lives from being lost to substance use and overdose, and connect people with substance use disorder and their families to resources.