Getting to Zero Opioid Overdose Deaths

The chart above shows the quarterly percentage of Medi-Cal Beneficiaries who have been engaged in a substance use treatment within 7 days of a non-fatal opioid overdose between July 2017 and now.  During the pandemic many factors complicated access to treatment.  However, access has been increasing since October 2021 and we have met our target of 16%. 

In the last year, 15.4% of Medi-Cal beneficiaries who received treatment within 7 days of non-fatal opioid overdose identified as Hispanic/Latinx.  As Marin Health and Human Services has typically engaged fewer Hispanic/Latinx adults in substance use treatment services as compared to other populations in Marin, the County and its RxSafe Marin Coalition partners have enhanced efforts to outreach and engage our Hispanic/Latinx communities. This year, RxSafe Marin Coalition partner, Alcohol Justice, launched the San Rafael Latino Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Outreach Project.(Source: 5) Alcohol Justice has been able to provide information for individuals seeking help with an opioid problem, through mailing cards, social media posts, videos, website resources. All materials are in Spanish and have been provided to all households and businesses in the San Rafael Canal community. 

The number of opioid overdose deaths throughout the country continues to rise. 

Between 1999 and 2016, the number of fatal opioid overdoses nationwide increased five times.  In 2017, opioids were involved in and estimated 67.8% of all drug overdose deaths. (Source:1) This epidemic exists at a national and local level.  Mirroring national trends, the leading cause of accidental death in Marin County is drug overdose with a majority of these involving opioids.

Learn more about Opioid Overdoses and use in Marin County. Additional trend data can be found on the CDC and CDPH websites.

Studies have demonstrated that a prior non-fatal overdose increases the risk of a fatal overdose.(Source: 1 & 2) Residents are at greatest risk for a potentially fatal overdose within 48 hours of a prior overdose event. Emerging research is evaluating interventions offering treatment when individuals experience an overdose and interface with the healthcare system, many of which are based in the emergency department.(Source: 3 & 4) However, some individuals experiencing an overdose may require life-saving interventions from emergency medical services (EMS) and decline emergency department transport. Additionally, individuals may not be amenable to treatment at the time of their overdose and offering treatment in the week following an overdose has been associated with treatment seeking and engagement. Developing an effective method of tracking and responding to non-fatal opioid overdoses in our community would help inform outreach and intervention programs that could help connect residents to treatment.

For emergencies please call 911.