ECDOH launches campaign to raise awareness of opioid poisoning, overdose deaths [Video]

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Erie County Department of Health announced the launch of the “Detect to Protect” marketing campaign to raise awareness around opioid poisoning and drug overdose deaths.

The marketing campaign is also meant to focus public attention on the need to test illicit drugs for fentanyl.

The ECDOH said it partnered with Impact Marketing and Communications for the campaign.

“With guidance from the ECDOH Office of Harm Reduction, Impact used county-level data and trends, along with focus groups and interviews with community members, healthcare and behavioral health providers, people with lived experience, outreach staff, and others involved and impacted by this work,” a release says.

The campaign emphasizes messages around the following topics:

• The dramatic increase in cocaine-related fentanyl overdose deaths
• The disproportionate impact on Black and African American residents
• How overdose deaths are occurring in an older age group

The ECDOH said campaign visuals will be on display in the Rath Building lobby throughout the week near the table where free Narcan is always available. Radio advertisements began in April 2024, …