Drug take-back event deemed successful

PERKINS TWP. — On Feb. 19, the Erie County Health Department, Perkins police and Inmar Intelligence hosted a community drug take-back event at the Sandusky-area Walmart. The initiative resulted in the successful collection and safe disposal of 18.5 pounds of unused or expired medications. While prescription weights vary based on the length of the supply, this total represents approximately 300 individual prescriptions that have been properly disposed of. By removing these items from the community, the department ensures they will not wind up in the wrong hands or contaminate the local water supply, protecting the safety of Erie County residents. In addition to medication collection, the event focused on harm reduction and prevention. Health department staff distributed: • Naloxone/Narcan, a life-saving medication used to reverse opioid overdoses • Deterra drug-deactivation pouches, which allow residents to safely dispose of medications at home "Seeing 18.5 pounds of medication taken out of medicine cabinets and off the streets is amazing," said Irina Buga, a public health educator and grant coordinator with the department. "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. And the partnership between local law enforcement and public health remains a cornerstone of Erie County's strategy to combat the opioid epidemic. "Our mission is to protect the health and well-being of every resident in Erie County," county health commissioner Pete Schade said. "Collaborations like this one, with Perkins police and Inmar Intelligence, show that when we work together, we can make a measurable impact."