LANCASTER, Pa. (WHTM) – The opioid crisis is an issue that has plagued many areas across the state and nation including Lancaster County. Settlement money from opioid companies has helped, but there are now minor tweaks.
“Some of the funding came faster than was initially anticipated,” Lancaster County Commissioner Josh Parsons said. “The trust also set timelines about how counties are to spend this money which weren’t in place originally.”
Parsons downplayed those changes, saying that counties have less time to come up with ideas how to use the funds.
The county unveiled Joining Forces back in 2017. It’s a program that helps address opioid overdose deaths across the county.
“Joining Forces is made up of like 70 different organizations. We have people from all across the county working on this issue,” Parsons said. “We’ve been very successful. We’ve cut the opioid overdose death rate in around half.”
That’s since the launch in 2017. That year there were 175 overdose deaths in Lancaster. In 2022, that number was 105.
The commissioner doesn’t think money flowing in faster will cause it to run out quicker.
“We don’t think so. It’s scheduled to go out between I think 15 and 18 years right now. Counties should be getting these funds for a significant amount of time,” he said.
The county has programs in place to help target specific groups on eliminating addiction. Those include student assistance for kids in school, lower class from entering the criminal justice system and neonatal support for mothers who may have a substance issue.
