Stanislaus County residents warned about alarming spike in drug overdose deaths
Agencies in Stanislaus County are alerting the public to an alarming increase in drug overdose and accidental poisoning deaths.
An advisory was released Thursday through the Opioid Safety Coalition and was posted on social media by agencies including the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office.
The alert was based on information on suspected overdoses and poisoning deaths from the Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program. The exact number of deaths was not released.
Stanislaus County averaged two to three fatal drug overdoses or poisonings per week in 2025, which was a decline when compared with previous years. The rise in suspected drug-related deaths this week was higher than those recent trends, which prompted the notification, said Dr. Bernardo Mora, medical director of county Behavioral Health and Recovery Services.
The number of deaths was still small enough that the county does not release the numbers because of privacy issues, Mora said by email.
The public advisory suggested that people check in with friends and family members who have a history of substance use. People can also carry Naloxone to reverse a drug overdose in an emergency.
“If you suspect an overdose, call 911 right away — even if you administered Naloxone,” the advisory said.
The Opioid Safety Coalition has worked to prevent opioid addiction and address the crisis caused by illegal fentanyl sold on the streets. Drug overdoses and poisonings are devastating, often impacting family and friends, and they’re preventable, the advisory said.
Naloxone is available at no cost by calling county Behavioral Health and Recovery Services at 209-525-5316. County residents can inquire about treatment and support for substance use by calling a BHRS access line at 888-376-6246.
This story was originally published February 20, 2026 at 10:58 AM.
