CHAMBERSBURG – Franklin County Commissioners have proclaimed October to be National Substance Use and Misuse Prevention Month in Franklin County. In doing so, the commissioners are drawing attention to how prevention programming can have a positive impact on a community’s health, wellness and overall wellbeing.
Substance use disorders – underage drinking, alcohol dependency, non-medical use of prescription drugs, abuse of over-the-counter medications and illicit drug use – affected approximately 48.7 million Americans in the past year. An estimated 59.3 million adults experienced a mental health issue in the same timeframe. Locally, an estimated 31,000 Franklin County residents are impacted by substance use and mental health disorders.
Organizations like Franklin/Fulton Drug and Alcohol and Healthy Communities Partnership are working to combat substance use in Franklin County through evidence-based educational programming and information dissemination. These initiatives reached more than 12,000 individuals in Franklin County between January 2024 and September 2025.
Statistics show that efforts like these are having a meaningful impact on today’s youth. According to the most recent Pennsylvania Area Youth Survey, Franklin County adolescents have experienced an 11.7 percent reduction in lifetime alcohol use, 5.9 percent decrease in cannabis use and 12.9 percent reduction in vaping over a 30-day period. The county has also seen a 78 percent increase in community engagement in prevention efforts over the past five years.
“National Substance Use and Misuse Prevention Month is a time to celebrate the wins we’ve achieved in steering the ship in the right direction, but there is still much to be done,” said Franklin County Commissioner Chairman Dean Horst. “With groups like Franklin/Fulton Drug and Alcohol and Healthy Communities Partnership leading the way, and with the support of our local communities and leaders at the state and federal levels, we can continue implementing effective preventative strategies to lower youth substance use and improve outcomes for everyone.”
By recognizing National Substance Use and Misuse Prevention Month, the commissioners are encouraging Franklin County residents to participate in and support programs and initiatives that promote substance use prevention and mental health conditions, not just in October but throughout the year.
For more information on prevention efforts and available services through the Franklin/Fulton Drug and Alcohol department, readers may call 717-263-1256 or email [email protected]. Information is also available online at www.franklincountypa.gov/departments/drug-and-alcohol.
Individuals seeking immediate help for themselves or for someone they know should call PA Get Help Now at 800-662-4357. For prevention resources, they may visit the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs website, www.ddap.pa.gov.
