The Narcan brand of naloxone, the drug to counter opioid overdoses, in a vending machine. (File photo courtesy San Diego County)
August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day, and various agencies in San Diego are participating.
Last week, San Diego County unveiled a new dashboard that shows the ripple effects of drug overdoses locally. It can be used to track overdose trends – such as average ages, ethnicities, and substances used – and pinpoint where resources are needed.
The Overdose Surveillance Dashboard will be updated quarterly and is meant to provide a view of local of opioid and other drug overdose trends. Teams can then be sent to affected areas with naloxone, fentanyl test strips and referrals to health and community services.
In Poway, the “Save A Life” overdose awareness event begins at 2 p.m. at the Old Poway Park Gazebo. The free event offers educational materials, support for recovery, and memorials to honor lost loved ones.
And the North County LGBTQ Resource Center and other nonprofits will host an event in Oceanside Sunday to amplify the message of awareness around overdose and recovery.
The center will put on “One Big Family – Driven by Hope,” at the organization at 1919 Apple Street.
The event will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and feature community Narcan training and free Narcan, a memorial altar, healing circle, resources and a light lunch. Families are encouraged to bring a photo for the altar, which will remain installed for two weeks after the event.
The center will be joined by Stepping Stones, Vista Community Clinic, Soap Mat, TruCare and North County Justice Allies in the event.
There have been six known deaths in Oceanside this year due to overdose. A total of 70% of overdose deaths in the county were related to opiods, 92% of those being from fentanyl.
Narcan, or naloxone, has been tied to a 16% decrease in opioid deaths countywide. The county’s Narcan vending machine program, started in 2023, dispensed more than 28,000 units of the overdose reversal drug in 2024.
“Overdose is preventable – when we act,” a statement from the center read. “Although the rate of overdose has decreased in 2024, it is still the leading cause of death for the age group 25-34 and disproportionality affects LGBTQIA+ people and those living at the margins.”
“Along with a tainted drug supply, access to recovery and treatment remains a significant barrier to recovery,” the statement added. “It’s essential that access to quality medical and health care treatment options remain at the forefront of our elected officials.”
The more than $50 billion received nationally from opioid lawsuit settlements are reaching local governments, and those funds are earmarked “for the purpose of remediation to the opioid epidemic such as prevention, intervention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery services.”
City News Service contributed to this report.