Rise in drug overdose deaths leads Stanislaus County to issue health alert
Stanislaus County has issued an alert warning the public about a sudden increase in drug overdose deaths, though it provided no numbers.
The health alert Wednesday from county Behavioral Health and Recovery Services came as Stanislaus and other counties deal with the nationwide opioid crisis.
The alert said the county has been impacted by a recent increase in suspected drug-related overdoses and accidental poisoning deaths. A message was sent to the county Opioid Safety Coalition, asking members to share the information with their networks.
The county agency offered assistance with obtaining supplies such as Narcan, for reversing overdoses, as well as fentanyl and xylazine test strips.
The Opioid Safety Coalition has focused on combating the use of illegal fentanyl, which resulted in 128 overdose deaths in this county in 2022. Drug traffickers are increasingly combining fentanyl powder with counterfeit pills, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and xylazine, a tranquilizer used by veterinarians.
Wednesday’s alert did not include any data on overdose deaths in recent weeks. County officials and coalition members had said a reduction in overdose deaths this year was likely due to education and awareness efforts.
The health alert advised residents to carry naloxone, an FDA-approved overdose-reversing medication often sold as Narcan nasal spray. People also were advised to:
- Call 911 right away if they suspect someone has overdosed, even if they administered Narcan.
- Check in with friends or family members who have a history of substance use.
The county alert suggested this is a good time for people struggling with substance use disorder to seek treatment. People can call county BHRS at 888-376-6246 to learn about those options.
This story was originally published September 28, 2023 at 2:31 PM.
