Officials Continue Efforts To Battle Deadly Heroin Epidemic In Suburbs
By Jim Melwert
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- Efforts continue in the suburbs to cut down on deadly heroin and opioid overdoses, including raising awareness of the dangers of the drugs, expanding access to a life-saving overdose antidote, and also working to change how doctors prescribe narcotics.
From 2009-to-2014 the number of heroin overdose deaths jumped 72-percent, with 105 deaths just in Montgomery County alone.
In October last year, a standing order was signed to allow pharmacies to dispense the anti-overdose drug Naloxone or Narcan.
Rhonda Stanek with the Montgomery County health department, says since the beginning of this year, "Participating pharmacies have given out 46 of the nasal spray with the atomizer, 57 of the EVZIO auto-inject, and 156 of the Narcan nasal spray."
Stanek says 131 chain pharmacies in Montgomery County offer Naloxone under the standing order, along with 23 independent pharmacies.
Acme pharmacies in Delaware County are now carrying the nasal spray.
Montgomery County medical society board member and ER doctor Bob McNamara says one factor has been how doctors have been pressured to treat pain.
"And then they were penalized if they didn't. And we've sort of gotten to this situation where now we have a lot of prescription opioids, and when they can't get access to that, heroin is cheaper."
For more information, visit: montcopa.org/2290/Pharmacies-with-Signed-Standing-Order
