On National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, California highlights efforts to address the opioid crisis
What you need to know: On National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom highlighted the state’s efforts to address the opioid crisis, which include public education campaigns, harm reduction resources and programs, and getting drugs off the streets and out of communities.
Sacramento, California – On National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom highlighted the state’s efforts to address the opioid crisis.
The painful realities of the opioid crisis play out every day in devastating impacts across the country. We may not be able to turn back the clock on this overdose epidemic, but we must stop it from evolving any further – and we owe it to our communities to help mitigate the damage this tragedy has wrought.
Governor Gavin Newsom
In 2023, Governor Newsom launched his Master Plan for Tackling the Fentanyl and Opioid Crisis, which provides a comprehensive framework to address the opioid and fentanyl crisis, including aggressive steps to support overdose prevention efforts, hold the opioid pharmaceutical industry accountable, crack down on drug trafficking, and raise awareness about the dangers of opioids, including fentanyl.
Every day, lives, families, and communities are torn apart by the opioid crisis. In California, we refuse to let anyone suffer alone. Instead, we’re working to connect people and families with recovery resources, and equip all Californians with the tools they need to keep themselves safe.
First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom
Education
California has pursued several public education campaigns, including a youth opioid education and awareness campaign, with an emphasis on fentanyl awareness.
Additionally, the Campus Opioid Act, signed by Governor Newsom in 2022, requires that every public college campus in California distribute a federally approved opioid overdose reversal medication like naloxone, and include information about opioid overdoses in their orientation process. Building on this effort, Governor Newsom signed AB 2429 (Alvarez), mandating fentanyl education be included in health classes.
Last year, the Governor launched opioids.ca.gov – a comprehensive website with resources for Californians. The website serves as a reliable source of information on prevention, data, treatment, and support where Californians can also access information related to the state’s use of opioid settlement funds and efforts to hold drug-traffickers accountable.
Prevention
The state has gone well beyond education, taking an all-hands-on-deck approach to the overdose crisis. A history of racial and economic disparities have helped drive the opioid crisis, heavily impacting access to lifesaving medications and treatments. Recognizing that, California is working to ensure that those most in need of support and help can access the necessary resources to help themselves and their loved ones and help prevent overdose-related deaths.
Earlier this year, the Governor announced the launch of a CalRx®-branded over-the-counter (OTC) naloxone HCL nasal spray, 4 mg, which is available for free to eligible organizations through the Naloxone Distribution Project (NDP). This follows the state’s contract with Amneal Pharmaceuticals to purchase an OTC naloxone nasal spray product through CalRx®’s Naloxone Access Initiative at a significantly lower price. Through the NDP, the state has distributed more than 4 million kits, saving more than 285,000 lives.
California is also focused on getting drugs, including illicit fentanyl, off the streets and out of California’s neighborhoods. Last year, Governor Newsom expanded the California National Guard’s work to prevent drug trafficking by transnational criminal organizations, launching a Counter Drug Task Force that operates across the state. The task force has been invaluable in helping federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies – seizing 8 million pills in the first six months of 2024.
Emerging threats
California is closely monitoring emerging threats that may become the next phase of the opioid crisis – including fentanyl being cut with xylazine, or mixed with illicit stimulants like methamphetamine or cocaine. The state provides a number of different resources that address these threats, that has resulted in almost half a million patients that have been referred for or received any recovery support services.
Xylazine – also known as “tranq” – is an animal tranquilizer that has reached the US illicit drug supply, and has been linked to an increasing number of overdose deaths nationwide. Right now, there is no evidence to suggest that xylazine is common in California’s drug supply, and Governor Newsom has taken early and aggressive steps to keep it that way. The California Department of Public Health works closely with partners across the state to monitor and address current trends and threats, and has issued a letter notifying all health facilities of the danger posed by and signs of xylazine exposure.
Last November, Governor Newsom called for legislative action to increase criminal penalties for the illicit trafficking of xylazine, and despite setbacks in the Legislature, he will continue to work with Legislative partners to pass this law.
The bigger picture
The opioid crisis has evolved over several decades, going through several phases since 1999, and killing over 564,000 people in the United States from overdose deaths alone. Fentanyl began to grow more popular in 2013, due to its potency and relative cheapness – which sent overdose deaths skyrocketing. Over 150 people die every day because of synthetic opioids like fentanyl.