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Harm‑reduction program reports 40% rise in clients; county expands naloxone, post‑overdose outreach and vending plans
Summary
Public‑health staff reported a 40% increase in unduplicated clients served by the county harm‑reduction program in fiscal 2024, rising distribution of naloxone and fentanyl test strips, and new initiatives funded by a CDC grant to reduce overdose deaths.
The county's harm‑reduction program saw a 40% increase in unduplicated clients in fiscal 2024 compared with the prior year, public‑health officials told the Health and Hospital Committee on Tuesday.
Dr. Akanksha Vaidya presented program data showing fewer syringes distributed since 2022 while distributions of naloxone and fentanyl test strips rose sharply. "In fiscal year 24, we distributed 29 percent more naloxone doses than the prior fiscal year, and 57 percent more fentanyl test strips," Vaidya said. Staff said the decline in syringes is likely tied to increased distribution of alternatives to injection (for smoking or snorting) following client feedback and evidence that alternatives can reduce overdose and injection‑related infections.
The program reported 562 self‑reported overdose reversals in the last fiscal year. Officials said that number likely undercounts true reversals because reporting is self‑reported and not all reversals are tracked centrally.
The county also described new initiatives funded by the CDC's Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) grant, including odfreescc.org (a public overdose‑prevention resource and data dashboard), a post‑overdose support team that performs outreach and warm handoffs following nonfatal overdoses, harm‑reduction vending machines to increase access to supplies, and expanded partnerships with community health centers. The county said it is also using opioid settlement funds, in collaboration with Behavioral Health Services, to expand services.
Committee members asked about funding and program logistics. Staff said the FY24 program budget was approximately $2.4 million and that most of that funding was county general fund with smaller amounts from CDC and state sources; opioid settlement funds support recent expansions. A low‑barrier medication‑assisted‑treatment program supported mainly through Sierra Health Foundation funding was described as serving roughly 120 to 150 clients per year and aiming for same‑day starts when clients are ready.
The committee voted to receive the report. Vice Chairperson Abakoga and Chairperson Lee recorded aye votes.
