Memorandum
Date: August 18, 2026
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Lake County Board of Supervisors
Subject: Presentation of Proclamation Designating August 31, 2026 as International Overdose Awareness Day
Executive Summary:
WHEREAS, International Overdose Awareness Day is a global campaign held on August 31 to end overdose, remember those who have died without stigma, and acknowledge the grief of family and friends left behind; and
WHEREAS, in 2024, 21 people fatally overdosed in Lake County which was the 12th highest overdose death rate in the state of California and is almost 2 times higher than the California rate. Lake County’s rate was 27.78/100k compared to California’s rate of 14.48/100k deaths. Data from CA Overdose Dashboard <https://skylab.cdph.ca.gov/ODdash/?tab=CTY>; and
WHEREAS, every person should have access to resources that prevent overdose and other causes of drug-related mortality, including naloxone, sterile needles, drug testing, and medication for addiction treatment; people who use drugs continue to be stigmatized and marginalized, discouraging them from accessing care and treatment; and
WHEREAS, in Lake County, dedicated prescribers of medication for addiction treatment, harm reduction providers, behavioral health providers, and addiction recovery programs work tirelessly to provide residents with these resources; all overdose deaths are preventable via access to harm reduction, health care, substance use prevention and treatment services, and naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal agent; and
WHEREAS, local communities play a crucial role in eliminating the stigma of addiction, including residents, elected officials, parents, private and public organizations, hospitals, law enforcement, first responders, schools, and colleges; and
WHEREAS, SafeRx Lake County, an overdose prevention coalition comprised of local agencies and organizations including Lake County Behavioral Health and Lake County Health Services, will host its sixth annual commemoration of International Overdose Awareness Day in Library Park in Lakeport on Saturday, August 22, 2026 from 11am to 3pm.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT PROCLAIMED, that the Lake County Board of Supervisors does hereby designate August 31 as International Overdose Awareness Day and urges Lake County citizens to join in this important observance.
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Recommended Action:
Presentation of Proclamation Designating August 31, 2026 as International Overdose Awareness Day