The Erie County Opiate Epidemic Task Force was formed through the Executive Order 14 in 2016, as a response to the epidemic being declared a “Public Health Crisis". This group has more than 500 members who meet quarterly to discuss.
Substance, opioid and stimulant use has caused thousands of deaths in Erie County. This epidemic continuously evolves and challenges people’s health and wellness, requiring an ongoing and proactive response to effectively address it. The Task Force commits to combating the epidemic in a peer-run model, advocating for increased harm reduction efforts, expanded access to treatment, and effective, unique reporting of overdose data to properly and quickly analyze the situation in Erie County. These efforts have served as an example for task forces throughout the United States.
More about the Opiate Epidemic Task Force
Task Force Committees
Seven committees meet regularly and report back to Task Force members at quarterly meetings.
- Rapid Evaluation & Appropriate Placement (REAP)
- Family & Consumer Support and Advocacy
- Community Education and Prevention
- Provider Education & Policy Reform
- Hospitals & Emergency Departments
- Harm Reduction
- Treatment Providers
Opiate Task Force Committee Presentations
Contact
To contact the Erie County Opiate Epidemic Task Force, please email opiatetaskforce@erie.gov or call (716) 858-6382.