Tri-County Collaborative has been awarded a CDPH
Fentanyl Overdose Prevention Grant to Tackle Rising Overdose Rates.
Tuesday, May 7, marked Fentanyl Awareness Day; a day dedicated to raising awareness
about the dangers of fentanyl and its devastating impact on individuals, families, and
communities worldwide.
Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, is approximately 50 to 100 times stronger than
morphine and has contributed to a staggering rise in opioid-related deaths in recent
years. Unbeknownst to people using drugs, fentanyl is frequently and cheaply mixed
into other substances like counterfeit prescription pills and other drugs. Combined with
its potency, this makes it a particularly lethal substance, often leading to accidental
poisonings, overdoses, and fatalities, even in small doses.
Fentanyl-related deaths continue to rise across the Central Coast region in 2023
claiming over 200 lives last year alone (California Overdose Surveillance Data
Dashboard; Coroner-Sheriff's Office).
On Fentanyl Awareness Day, we honor the memory of those who have lost their lives to
fentanyl overdoses and poisonings while standing in solidarity with individuals and
families battling addiction.
The Tri-County Collaborative (TCC), encompassing substance use safety and overdose
prevention coalitions along our Central Coast region of Santa Cruz, San Benito, and
Monterey counties, renew their commitment to prevention, education, and harm
reduction efforts aimed at impacting the devastating wave of opioid-related deaths in
our communities. On May 7, the TCC is proud to announce it has been awarded a
California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Fentanyl Overdose Prevention Grant.
This multi-year grant totaling $1,280,985 over 3 years, provides critical funding to
bolster efforts to combat the alarming increase in fentanyl-related overdoses gripping
the region. United, we can leverage the strength of our individual coalitions to maximize
our impact across our three neighboring counties in which our communities crossover
for home, work, play, and to access needed health care services.
The TCC is composed of healthcare professionals, law enforcement agencies,
community organizations, and government entities unified around the urgent need for
comprehensive intervention strategies to address the fentanyl epidemic.
Amidst the growing fentanyl crisis, collaborative action is essential to protect the health
and well-being of our communities. This grant represents a significant step forward in
our collective efforts to prevent overdoses, save lives, and provide support to individuals
struggling with substance use disorders.
Key initiatives funded by the CDPH grant include:
1. Providing education programs in schools
2. Supporting overdose prevention and increasing access to naloxone (NARCAN®)
3. Improving local overdose data surveillance
4. Increasing access to substance use disorder recovery services among those
addicted to fentanyl or other opioids
Our collaborative approach is rooted in compassion, equity, and a commitment to
addressing the underlying factors driving substance use disorders. Together, we will
work to stem the tide of fentanyl-related overdoses and poisonings and provide support
and resources to individuals and families impacted by addiction.
The TCC extends its gratitude to the California Department of Public Health for its
support and partnership in addressing this public health crisis.
For more information and media inquiries about the TCC and its initiatives, please visit:
Santa Cruz:
● Webpage: hipscc.org/saferx
● Email: SafeRx@hipscc.org
San Benito:
● Home | San Benito County Opioid Task Force (sbcopioidtaskforce.org)
● Email: sbcotf@cosb.us
Monterey:
● Website: ccodp.org
● Email: contact@ccodp.org
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