Quarterly meeting of the Erie County Overdose Prevention Task Force (OPTF), hosted by Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein. The Erie County Department of Health has measured changes in demographics of local overdoses since 2018. Additionally, overdoses and overdose fatalities have decreased over the past year, trends that continue to track with state and national decreases. The meeting agenda:
• Local overdose data & trends;
• Workgroup reports;
• NYSHOH assistance program;
• Review of prior feedback;
• Erie County Opioid Settlement;
• Internal guardrails & process;
• "Detect to Protect" campaign;
• Q&A;
• Erie County online data dashboard updates;
• Upcoming Black Baloon Day event;
• Community Share-out;
• Next meeting: May 5, 2025.
The Erie County OPTF provides a framework for organizations and individuals to collaborate, develop, and implement best practices that build stronger clinical and community supports for people with substance use disorder, people who use drugs and their families, and advocate for policies and systems changes that will save lives and prevent overdose deaths.
The Overdose Prevention Task Force has five committees that work collaboratively to support the community with interventions and public health strategies to reduce overdoses and overdose fatalities. Quarterly meetings review workgroup activities and increase collaborative efforts.
Details at: www3.erie.gov/health/overdose-prevention-task-force
