Dr. John Kosoloski, executive director of the Schuylkill County Drug and Alcohol Commission, has released the latest report on drug and alcohol abuse in the county, showing the county leads the commonwealth in the sales and consumption of alcoholic beverages.

He said the state average of beer consumption is approximately 24-26 gallons per person annually, while Schuylkill County’s consumption averages 74 gallons per person, three times above the state average.

In his prescription drug abuse report, Kosoloski said Pennsylvania was number one in the consumption rate for the majority of prescribed addicting drugs, with Schuylkill County residents having used 19 times the national average.