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Santa Barbara Opioid Safety Coalition
We are a local community coalition dedicated to saving lives and preventing opioid misuse through expanding public education and media outreach, enhancing opioid surveillance, preventing overdose and promoting Naloxone distribution, promoting safe disposal practices, encouraging early intervention, and expanding treatment access and recovery throughout Santa Barbara County.
Santa Barbara Opioid Safety Coalition
We are a local community coalition dedicated to saving lives and preventing opioid misuse through expanding public education and media outreach, enhancing opioid surveillance, preventing overdose and promoting Naloxone distribution, promoting safe disposal practices, encouraging early intervention, and expanding treatment access and recovery throughout Santa Barbara County.
Welcome
The Santa Barbara Opioid Safety Coalition is a local community coalition in Santa Barbara County dedicated to saving lives and preventing opioid misuse. The coalition was formed in 2018 to help coordinate local efforts to respond to the opioid crisis. You can learn more about us here. This website was created to bring attention to the opioid issue in our community and provide resources to individuals seeking treatment for an opioid use disorder for themselves or a loved one, as well as information and resources for behavioral health professionals, physicians, and policymakers.
Although we are all aware by now that there is an opioid crisis, the impact continues to escalate. Nationally, 1.4 million people used prescription painkillers non-medically for the first time in the past year. The average age of these users was 21. Four out of five people who are addicted to heroin report that their addiction began with prescription pills. Despite the epidemic of opioid abuse in America, only 1 in 10 people with a substance use disorder receive treatment. Every community is being impacted, and Santa Barbara is no exception. Almost twice a week, someone in Santa Barbara County dies from an overdose involving opioids.
We hope you find this website useful and welcome your feedback and inquiries. You may contact us via email.
News and Updates
“Fentanyl Is Forever” Campaign Launches in Santa Barbara County
In an effort to educate people in Santa Barbara County about the nationwide and local epidemic of fentanyl deaths, the Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness has launched the “Fentanyl is Forever” campaign. The campaign’s website can be found at fentanylisforeversb.org.
The campaign, which features compelling videos from families and friends of victims, doctors, and health care administrators, seeks to convey how dangerous fentanyl is — much deadlier than other opioids: “Just a few grains of fentanyl are enough to kill you. Or your child.”
“Any pill or powder you get on the street may have fentanyl in it. All it takes to die is a few grains. Fentanyl gives no warnings. It has no smell, no special color. It has been showing up in other drugs on the street and at parties. Whether it’s your first time or your tenth time, it can too easily become your last time.”
The campaign also includes ads on local television, radio, and social media. Spread the word…fentanyl is forever.
It’s OK Santa Barbara County:
A New Resource for Youth
“It’s OK Not to be OK.” That’s the message that youth concerned about their mental health want to share on a new website—oksbc.org—created by the County Dept. of Behavioral Wellness in collaboration with local youth.
It’s OK Santa Barbara County and the online OK Campus is a space for youth to open up about their struggles with mental health, substance misuse, anxiety, stress and other issues, and to find healthy ways and resources to cope. Together, we can start the conversation to stop the social stigma attached to mental health and substance use disorders. With fentanyl poisonings and mental health concerns on the rise among youth in our community, this resource is more important than ever.
Santa Barbara County Education Office Hosts Panel Presentation on the Fentanyl and Opioid Epidemic
Four expert panelists gave some great advice about prevention and response to the epidemic of fentanyl poisonings among young people in a presentation for parents, community members and youth hosted by Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Susan Salcido, on January 19. You can watch the presentation here.
Panelists included Melissa Wilkins, division chief of alcohol and drug programs at the Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness; Dr. Carrick Adam, a pediatrician and Medical Director at the Santa Barbara County Juvenile Justice Center; Principal Shanda Herrera of Pioneer Valley High School in Santa Maria, and Senior Deputy George Hedricks, who works on the Dos Pueblos High School and Goleta Valley Junior High campuses.
All four of the panelists stressed that social media apps like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok are making drugs easier for teenagers to get and glamorizing and normalizing drug use. They encouraged open conversation with youth, starting as young as age 10, to ensure they are aware of the dangers of drug use and that they are comfortable talking with parents about uncomfortable topics. They also said to be aware of any sudden changes in behavior or other indications of potential drug use and to contact one of the many local resources for help at the first sign of trouble.
Read coverage of the event in the Santa Barbara Independent here.
YOR Place Lompoc
YOR Place Lompoc is a youth drop-in center located in the City of Lompoc to address opioid and stimulant use disorders among youth ages 12-24 years old and their families. Services are located adjacent to the Family Service Agency at 646 N. H Street.
Naloxone is available to youth and their families in Lompoc through Naloxone Now.
YOR Place Lompoc is supported by a federal grant under the State Opioid Response program, with funding provided by the California Department of Health Care Services.
For more information download the brochures and flyers below or email YORPlace@sbcbwell.org.
> Download YOR Place Lompoc Brochure in English
> Download YOR Place Lompoc Brochure in Spanish
> Download YOR Place Lompoc Flyer in English
Follow us on social media for regular updates!
Santa Barbara County Residents Can Now Order Free Naloxone
Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can stop an opioid overdose, including overdoses from heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioids. Naloxone is safe and easy to use. It is most often given as a nasal spray. Naloxone quickly stops an overdose by blocking the effects of opioids. It can restore normal breathing within 2 to 3 minutes in a person whose breath has slowed or stopped because of opioid overdose. More than one dose of naloxone may need to be given when stronger opioids like fentanyl are involved. Even after administering naloxone to someone overdosing, they will need medical help.
Thanks to a new effort launched by the Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness, community members may request Naloxone at no cost for personal use by completing the Naloxone Now SB request form, or by calling (805) 681-5323. Requests will be processed within two business days and mailed within 3-5 business days.
Sheriff’s Office Launches Free Naloxone Distribution Program
Beginning March 28, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a FREE Narcan Distribution Program through the Department of Health Care Services, Naloxone Distribution Project (NDP) at Sheriff’s Headquarters (4434 Calle Real, Santa Barbara), as well as the Carpinteria (5775 Carpinteria Avenue, Carpinteria) and Santa Maria (812 W. Foster Road, Santa Maria) substations. This program aims to distribute Narcan to members of the public and increase awareness about the opioid crisis and the importance of Narcan in saving lives. Members of the public can come to the lobby of one of these three stations during business hours, obtain information about a short instructional video and receive Narcan. This program is free to the public and members of the public are not required to provide personal information to participate.
Who Should Carry Naloxone?
- If you or someone you know is at increased risk for opioid overdose, especially those struggling with opioid use disorder (OUD), you should carry naloxone and keep it at home.
- People who are taking high-dose opioid medications (greater or equal to 50 morphine milligram equivalents per day) prescribed by a doctor
- People who use opioids and benzodiazepines together
- People who use illicit opioids like heroin should all carry naloxone
Know the Signs of Overdose:
- Difficult to wake up
- Slowed breathing
- Confusion
- Blue or pale lips and fingernails
FDA Approves “Over-The-Counter” Naloxone
In March, the FDA approved the nasal spray, Naloxone, also known as Narcan, to be available without a prescription. This will pave the way for the life-saving medication to be sold directly to consumers in places like drug stores, convenience stores, grocery stores and gas stations, as well as online.
Xylazine: A New Risk for Drug Overdoses and Poisonings
Xylazine is an animal tranquilizer which is reaching the US illicit drug supply (“on the street”) where it is known as “tranq” or “tranq dope.” Xylazine has been linked to an increasing number of overdose deaths nationwide. Some people who use drugs are taking xylazine knowingly in combination with other drugs, especially fentanyl. Other people who use drugs are not aware their drug supply contains xylazine at all.The effects of xylazine alone are not reversed by naloxone, and unfortunately there is no reversal drug for it.
Xylazine is still a new and emerging issue in California, and there is no evidence to suggest that xylazine is common in California’s drug supply at this time (March 23, 2023). However, the U.S. illicit drug supply is unpredictable and experts are concerned that xylazine may eventually penetrate the California drug supply, increasing instances of fatal overdose and serious skin infections.
Learn more here.
Download briefs about Xylazine for health care and treatment providers from CDPH and from SAMHSA.
Understanding Opioid Use Disorder
Opioids are meant to be used for the treatment of acute (short-term) pain, but they act in many ways in the brain and can be highly addictive. Unfortunately, these brain changes and the development of tolerance and withdrawal are not under a person’s control. The good news is that addiction to opioids is a treatable condition now medically recognized as Opioid Use Disorder.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
MAT is an approach that combines medication with support to address the behaviors and compulsive patterns that are associated with opioid addiction. Just as heart disease is treated using medication and lifestyle changes, MAT for Opioid Use Disorder, using the same approach, has proven to be the most effective way of helping a person get off of opioids and get back their life and health.
Find a Treatment Provider
Explore your treatment options and find a treatment provider that's right for your needs. Providers include doctors who prescribe Medication-Assisted Treatment and Behavioral Health providers who can help with therapeutic behavioral interventions, support your mental wellness, and address co-occurring mental health issues. Most providers accept Medi-Cal and insurance.
Recovery Support
Recovery support is the replacement of people, places and things that encourages substance abuse with positive support from friends and family, peers and treatment programs that encourage healthy lifestyles. That’s why recovery services are provided as part of all treatment services and include alumni groups, peer supports, professional check-ins and self-help group attendance.
Pain Management
Chronic pain can be devastating, and effective pain management is essential to get your life back. Opioids are not the first-line treatment for chronic pain. Talk to your doctor about ways to manage your pain that don’t involve prescription opioids, such as non-opioid pain relievers and certain anti-depressants, physical therapy and exercise, biofeedback, and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Overdose Response
Opioid overdoses can often be reversed by administering Naloxone, an FDA-approved drug that can be given via intranasal spray or subcutaneous or intravenous injection. You can learn how to recognize the signs of an overdose and what to do in the case of an emergency. Learn where to get Naloxone and how to be prepared if you or someone you know has an Opioid Use Disorder.
Understanding Opioid Use Disorder
Opioids are meant to be used for the treatment of acute (short-term) pain, but they act in many ways in the brain and can be highly addictive. Unfortunately, these brain changes and the development of tolerance and withdrawal are not under a person’s control. The good news is that addiction to opioids is a treatable condition now medically recognized as Opioid Use Disorder.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
MAT is an approach that combines medication with support to address the behaviors and compulsive patterns that are associated with opioid addiction. Just as heart disease is treated using medication and lifestyle changes, MAT for Opioid Use Disorder, using the same approach, has proven to be the most effective way of helping a person get off of opioids and get back their life and health.
Find a Treatment Provider
Explore your treatment options and find a treatment provider that's right for your needs. Providers include doctors who prescribe Medication-Assisted Treatment and Behavioral Health providers who can help with therapeutic behavioral interventions, support your mental wellness, and address co-occurring mental health issues. Most providers accept Medi-Cal and insurance.
Recovery Support
Recovery support is the replacement of people, places and things that encourages substance abuse with positive support from friends and family, peers and treatment programs that encourage healthy lifestyles. That’s why recovery services are provided as part of all treatment services and include alumni groups, peer supports, professional check-ins and self-help group attendance.
Pain Management
Chronic pain can be devastating, and effective pain management is essential to get your life back. Opioids are not the first-line treatment for chronic pain. Talk to your doctor about ways to manage your pain that don’t involve prescription opioids, such as non-opioid pain relievers and certain anti-depressants, physical therapy and exercise, biofeedback, and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Overdose Response
Opioid overdoses can often be reversed by administering Naloxone, an FDA-approved drug that can be given via intranasal spray or subcutaneous or intravenous injection. You can learn how to recognize the signs of an overdose and what to do in the case of an emergency. Learn where to get Naloxone and how to be prepared if you or someone you know has an Opioid Use Disorder.
How Are Opioids Affecting Santa Barbara County?
Almost twice a week, someone in Santa Barbara County dies from an overdose involving opioids. A review of data from the county coroner showed that 121 overdose deaths in 2021 involved opioids. Fentanyl was involved in 95% of these deaths. From 2018 to 2021, there have been at least 1,101 overdose reversals from Naloxone administration, according to self-report data, and in 2021, naloxone saved 727 lives of individuals who called 911 due to an opioid overdose. Please visit our Data Dashboard to learn more and stay up-to-date on the impact of opioids in Santa Barbara County.
How Can You Get Involved?
Please explore this website’s continually updated resources for youth, parents and families, physicians and behavioral health professionals, and policymakers.
Learn more about how the coalition is tackling this issue and how you can help by ensuring you safely dispose of presciption medications and keep them secure at home.
How Are Opioids Affecting Santa Barbara County?
Almost twice a week, someone in Santa Barbara County dies from an overdose involving opioids. A review of data from the county coroner showed that 121 overdose deaths in 2021 involved opioids. Fentanyl was involved in 95% of these deaths. From 2018 to 2021, there have been at least 1,101 overdose reversals from Naloxone administration, according to self-report data, and in 2021, naloxone saved 727 lives of individuals who called 911 due to an opioid overdose. Please visit our Data Dashboard to learn more and stay up-to-date on the impact of opioids in Santa Barbara County.
How Can You Get Involved?
Please explore this website’s continually updated resources for youth, parents and families, physicians and behavioral health professionals, and policymakers.
Learn more about how the coalition is tackling this issue and how you can help by ensuring you safely dispose of presciption medications and keep them secure at home.
Coalition Member Organizations
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