- Home
- Departments
- Health and Human Services
- Partnerships
- Overdose Prevention
Overdose Prevention
Overdoses Can Be Prevented
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in deaths resulting from heroin and prescription opioids. This epidemic has spread across Pennsylvania,
The Office of Public Health (OPH) is addressing this epidemic head-on. This page offers information for residents, pharmacies, first responders and healthcare professionals who can help us confront this public health crisis.
Pharmacies & Naloxone Access
On October 15, 2015, OPH's Interim Medical Director Dr. Valerie. A. Arkoosh, at the time, issued a county-wide standing order, citing PA ACT 139, allowing licensed pharmacies (which choose to participate) to dispense naloxone to individuals at risk of a heroin or opioid-related overdose, or those who may witness one. ACT 139 provides access to an opioid overdose reversal medicine that can save lives and hopefully lead an individual toward the substance abuse treatment they need.
As pharmacies agree to participate and sign current Medical Director, Dr. Lorraine's standing order, each participating pharmacy will be listed here - List of Participating Pharmacies
Drug Disposal Program
In 2010, the District Attorney’s Office in conjunction with the Montgomery County Police Chiefs Association established the Drug Disposal Program to help County residents safely dispose of prescription and over-the-county medications, while keeping them out of our landfills and water supply. Nearly 50 police departments as well as several medical facilities and the County Courthouse have MedReturn boxes, where the public can easily and conveniently dispose of their unused, unwanted and expired medications at no cost. Since the program began, more than 114,000 pounds of unwanted medicines have been collected and safely destroyed.
Helpful Links
- Act 139 - Good Samaritan Law for Use of NARCAN
- CDC - Opioid Overdose
- Naloxone FAQ for General Public
- NARCAN Nasal Spray
- Opioid Awareness Community Event Handout - Dec. 2019
- Overdose Free PA - offers many resources, including data and a list of PA pharmacies currently carrying Naloxone
- PA Department of Drug and Alcohol Program
- PA Department of Health
- PA Department of Health - Standing Order
- PA.gov - Naloxone FAQs
- Suicide Prevention Taskforce @(Model.BulletStyle == CivicPlus.Entities.Modules.Layout.Enums.BulletStyle.Decimal ? "ol" : "ul")>
Helpful Links
- CDC - At-A-Glance: Guideline for Prescribing Opioid for Chronic Pain
- CDC - MMWR: Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain — United States, 2016
- CDC HAN 395 - Influx of Fentanyl-laced Counterfeit Pills and Toxic Fentanyl-related Compounds Further Increases Risk of Fentanyl-related Overdose and Fatalities (2016)
- PA - Emergency Department Pain Treatment Guidelines
- PA - Use of Opioids in Dental Practice
- PA Health Alert 351 - Pennsylvania’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program – Tutorial and FAQs
- PA Health Alert 367 - Extreme Danger Posed by Carfentanil
- PA Health Alert 377 - Carfentanil-Related Overdose
- PA Health Alert 384 - Newly Released Guidance on Preventing Fentanyl Exposure Among First Responders
- PDPH Alert - Overdose Outbreak in Philadelphia
- PDPH Health Alert - Carfentanil Drug Overdose Deaths
- PDPH Update - Opioid Prescribing Guidelines
- Surgeon General Releases Spotlight on Opioids @(Model.BulletStyle == CivicPlus.Entities.Modules.Layout.Enums.BulletStyle.Decimal ? "ol" : "ul")>
Eastern MontCo (Willow Grove Area)
Gaudenzia
830 Twining Road, Suite 1
Dresher, PA 19025
215-433-1634
Central MontCo (Norristown Area)
Gaudenzia
166 West Main Street
Norristown, PA 19401
610-279-4262
Western MontCo (Pottstown Area)
Creative Health Services
11 Robinson Street
Pottstown, PA 19464
610-327-1503
Northern Montco (Lansdale Area)
Penn Foundation
271 N. Bethlehem Pike, Suite 201
Colmar, PA 18915
267-452-1913
Individuals with Private Health Insurance should call the number on the back of their Insurance card and request instruction on how to access Drug and Alcohol treatment services.
The Montgomery County Recovery Community Center (MCRCC)
601 Dekalb Street, Suite 1
Norristown, PA 19401
484-383-0805
A peer-operated center that offers recovery support services, workshops, and trainings for the recovery community. The MCRCC is a project of PRO-ACT, Pennsylvania Recovery Organization - Achieving Community Together, which is hosted by The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc. Funding for the center is through the Montgomery County Offices of Drug and Alcohol and Managed Care Solutions.
Helpful Links
- Naloxone FAQ Pharmacists
- Naloxone Access: A Practical Guideline for Pharmacists
- Prescribe To Prevent - Information for pharmacies to start prescribing and dispensing naloxone (Narcan) rescue kits
- Pennsylvania’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program @(Model.BulletStyle == CivicPlus.Entities.Modules.Layout.Enums.BulletStyle.Decimal ? "ol" : "ul")>