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Drug overdose rates have been consistently 40-70% over the national average in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Made up of Lehigh and Northampton Counties, this area has struggled to combat the rise of fentanyl-related overdoses in recent years.
Northampton County has launched two Deterra Household Mailing Campaigns to get at-home drug deactivation tools and educational materials directly to 151,000 households. The initiative aims to educate the community, connect residents to harm reduction resources and encourage households to safely dispose of unused pills to prevent misuse, addiction and overdoses.
“54% of overdose deaths occur in someone’s home, and it can start with kids taking prescriptions that are not theirs,” says Kathy Jiorle, the Northampton County Drug & Alcohol Division administrator. “We have been driving awareness about prevention, and now we have that awareness and it’s time to take action with tools like the Deterra System.”
Northampton’s household mailing is part of the county’s Fake is Real campaign, which started in 2023 to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and counterfeit pills among teens and young adults.
When the county was putting plans together for how to use its opioid settlement funds, County Executive Lamont McClure reached out to Jiorle about distributing Deterra. The Deterra Pouches safely deactivate and dispose of unwanted medications and illicit drugs with the simple addition of tap water.
Jiorle’s team contacted Deterra about getting resources quickly into the community on a large scale. A household mailing campaign was the perfect fit. The campaign sends pouches directly to households along with customized postcards that include targeted messaging and a QR code to the Fake is Real site.
“Northampton County is taking decisive action to keep unused medications out of the wrong hands and prevent addiction before it starts. Through Fake is Real, we are attempting to keep as many opioids out of the hands of young people as we can,” says County Executive Lamont McClure.
Since the second household mailing earlier this year, Northampton County’s campaign has provided households with enough Deterra Pouches to safely destroy up to 6 million unwanted medications.
Jiorle notes residents have called the county executive’s office to share the positive impact the household mailing campaign has had on their families.
“People understand the importance of disposal, but there’s a perception it takes time and going somewhere to properly dispose of drugs. With the household mailing campaign, they have everything they need and it’s ready to use,” she says.
The initiative empowers everyone to make a difference in the fight against drug misuse.
“We all need to be vigilant and aware of the most responsible things we can do to curtail drug use in our communities,” says Jiorle.
Visit DeterraSystem.com/government to explore how other organizations are using Deterra or reach out to (612) 568-1128 or Sales@DeterraSystem.com to discuss how to implement at-home drug disposal initiatives in your community.
