Memorandum
Date: August 20, 2024
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Anthony Arton, Health Services Director
Kim Tangerman, Deputy Health Services Director
Subject: Presentation of Proclamation Designating the Thirty-First Day of August as International Overdose Awareness Day
Executive Summary:
Designating The Thirty-First Day of August as International Overdose Awareness Day
WHEREAS, International Overdose Awareness Day is a global campaign held on August 31 to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died, and acknowledge the grief of family and friends left behind;
WHEREAS, in 2022, 35 people fatally overdosed in Lake County which is the second-highest overdose death rate in the state of California and was 3 times higher than the California rate. Lake County's rate was 56/100k compared to California's rate of 19/100k deaths. Data from CA Overdose Dashboard
WHEREAS, 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;
WHEREAS, people who use drugs continue to be stigmatized and marginalized, discouraging them from accessing care and treatment;
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;
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;
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;
WHEREAS, SafeRx Lake County, an overdose prevention coalition comprised...
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