The El Paso County Commissioners Court on Aug. 25 adopted a resolution recognizing Aug. 31 as International Overdose Awareness Day and committed to continued use of opioid-settlement resources for prevention, recovery and reintegration programs.

Commissioner Cindy Stout, sponsor of the resolution, said the county must treat substance use as a public-health issue and highlighted work to hold industry accountable through litigation that returned funds to the community. The court’s resolution lists commitments including continued county-led initiatives using opioid settlement resources, support for reintegration and recovery housing and job training, and encouragement of community organizations that provide overdose prevention and recovery supports.

Several peer recovery specialists and harm-reduction advocates addressed the court during the resolution’s presentation. Jamie Bailey, a peer recovery support specialist with Project Vida and co‑founder of the El Paso Harm Reduction Alliance, said: "By adopting this resolution, you are sending a clear message that our county values compassion over stigma, action over silence, and that every life is worth saving." Christopher Bailey, a project coordinator and person in long-term recovery, cited national data the group highlighted about reductions in overdose deaths after investments in naloxone, testing strips and syringe services and urged formation of subject-matter panels to guide spending of settlement dollars.

Speakers described increased prevalence of fentanyl in the local illicit-supply market, the lifesaving role of naloxone (Narcan) and medication-assisted treatments such as buprenorphine and methadone. Several speakers asked the court to sustain funding, reduce stigma in policy, and ensure settlement dollars support evidence-based harm-reduction programs and peer recovery services.

The court moved, seconded and carried the resolution; no roll-call tallies were printed in the meeting transcript.