Preventing drug abuse, saving lives

Red Ribbon Week – Oct. 23 to 31 delivers a strong anti-drug message to school children nationwide. I strongly support this annual program, and once again this year my office is distributing thousands of Red Ribbon certificates to students throughout the 75th Assembly District.

In 2022, there were almost 11,000 overdose deaths in California, and fentanyl was a major cause. The number of overdose deaths in San Diego County fell from 1,300 in 2022 to 1,203 last year, but fentanyl overdoses still caused 749 deaths last year.

According to San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan, fentanyl is the number one killer of people 18 to 45 in the county. The drug is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It comes in various forms, and can be made to look like any prescription pill. Even a very small amount can be lethal.

Most fentanyl is smuggled across California’s southern border. U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized more than 22,000 pounds of fentanyl between October 2022 and June 2023. That compares to 8,300 pounds seized the previous year.

Help for victims is available. Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) is considered the gold standard in treating opioid addictions. However, several areas in San Diego County located within the 75th Assembly District have been identified as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HSPSAs). Lack of treatment options, and the long driving distances involved can limit effective and timely treatments. That can cost lives.

This session I introduced AB 1233 which will help make Naloxone and other fentanyl antidotes more available in tribal areas. But we also need to do all we can to prevent overdoses by spreading the word about the dangers of drug abuse – the message thousands of students receive during Red Ribbon Week.

By using educational programs like Red Ribbon Week, along with MAT and enhanced law enforcement against drug traffickers, this deadly scourge can be stopped. Thousands of lives can be saved.