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; 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...
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