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Lancaster Co. DA takes another step toward combatting drug epidemic

LANCASTER, Pa. — Officials in Lancaster County are trying to combat the drug epidemic in the county. Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman has ...

LANCASTER, Pa. -- Officials in Lancaster County are trying to combat the drug epidemic in the county.

Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman has already taken steps to reduce the drug problem, including harsher sentences for drug dealers and having police officers carry Narcan.

Stedman launched an online map to show the county how often emergency service professionals are responding to drug incidents, in the hopes of reducing that number.

More than 2,500 overdoses were reported from 2014 to 2016. Officials said the goal of the map is to show there is a drug problem throughout the whole county, not just in one area.

Brett Hambright with the district attorney's office said, "We decided hey let's physically map it out and show these communities that are in disbelief or just being naive that it is there. It is in there community."

Stedman said, "So what you're seeing was an over prescription of drugs, of opioids, with well intentions by the doctors and the dentists. But extremely dangerous and has helped lead to the problem we have now."

Stedman said the DA's office will also be giving out lockboxes for people to put their unused prescription medication. The boxes will be distributed at community forums.

Stedman thinks it's frustrating so many overdoses are reported because it's preventable.

To view the map, click here.

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