header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
December 10
1941 - Three days after Pearl Harbor attack, 165th and 185th Infantry Regiments assigned to Saugus; Edison power substation guarded 24/7 [timeline]
Edison substation timeline


Face of Fentanyl Wall_0In recognition of National Opioid Awareness Day, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and partners gathered to advance a multi-faceted opioid prevention strategy to reduce the overdose crisis in Los Angeles County.

The overdose crisis is at all-time high in Los Angeles County with seven to eight people dying every day of an overdose, approximately half of those overdoses are caused by fentanyl. Nationally, six out of ten street-bought drugs now contain illicit fentanyl, according to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. There is no way to see, smell, or taste if a pill or powder has been laced with fentanyl.

Public Health provides intervention programs and services to prevent opioid use, reduce deaths from overdose and provide easy access to treatment programs. These resources include widespread availability of naloxone, an easy-to-administer opioid overdose reversal nasal spray; expansion of harm reduction programs; and targeted awareness campaigns to communicate the increasing community risk of illicit fentanyl and the tools available to help those in need.

Public Health and community partners gathered at the Martin Luther King Jr. Behavioral Health Center earlier Thursday. Here are selected quotes from officials:

“National Opioid Awareness Day provides us with an opportunity to shine a brighter light on the destructive impact of fentanyl and other harmful drugs and the County’s multi-pronged effort to combat this crisis,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell. “We are committed to strengthening preventative resources and access to recovery options that meet the varying needs of our residents. We cannot do this without strong community partnerships and residents joining us in raising awareness on the resources and support that is available.”

“The fentanyl crisis is a tragedy of historic proportions. Illicit fentanyl is impacting all our communities and leading to the tragic deaths of thousands of our friends, family members, and loved ones,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, director of L.A. County Department of Public Health. “All of us are on the frontline of the fentanyl crisis, and we want all members of the community to understand this crisis and know that tools such as naloxone can save lives.”

“The fentanyl crisis is affecting all of us and sparing no community, neighborhood, or demographic,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. “Through our Sheriff’s Overdose Response Task Force, we are working with our local and federal partners to aggressively pursue individuals who cause tragic deaths in our communities and bring justice to families who have lost loved ones. The importance of opioid and fentanyl awareness is critical to saving lives and every person in our community has the shared responsibility to be part of that solution.”

“As the fentanyl crisis continues to impact our youth, it’s imperative that we take action. Our schools are committed to not only educating but also implementing preventive and interventionist measures to ensure our students are fully aware of the risks associated with fentanyl use. We are deeply appreciative of the cooperative efforts made by our community partners, which enable us to address the opioid epidemic more comprehensively and safeguard our most vulnerable youth,” said Dr. Debra Duardo, Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools.

“The DEA is working tirelessly on a multi-level approach to tackle the drug overdose and poisoning crisis that is driven by criminal drug networks,” said William D. Bodner, DEA special agent in charge, Los Angeles Field Division. “From targeting and prosecuting violent drug offenders, to community outreach and the expansion of medically assisted treatment options, the DEA is committed to a comprehensive approach to combat the current drug epidemic. Education and awareness are an absolute essential component to end the deadliest drug crisis our country has ever seen.”

“I advocate for awareness, change, and education, hoping to spare others from the excruciating pain and heartache that comes from losing a child or loved one,” said Alma Sanchez, community member and mother of 19-year-old Deenilson, who lost his life to a fentanyl overdose. “There are still many uninformed families that don’t talk about the issue because of the shame that comes from substance use disorders. Let’s end that stigma and help start the conversation to create a better future for our families.”

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


LOS ANGELES COUNTY HEADLINES
Friday, Dec 8, 2023
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has added a new tool to help keep you and your family safe during the current flu, COVID-19 and RSV respiratory illness season.
Friday, Dec 8, 2023
The time for holiday cheer is here! Enjoy all the free festivities at your local Los Angeles County park this season, complete with toys, music, games, crafts, caroling and snow at select locations.
Friday, Dec 8, 2023
The National Weather Service has issued the potential for Red Flag fire weather conditions for Los Angeles County Saturday, Dec. 9, to Sunday, Dec. 10.
Friday, Dec 8, 2023
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed Thursday 217 new laboratory confirmed cases and two additional deaths from COVID-19 in the Santa Clarita Valley within the last week.
Friday, Dec 8, 2023
As Los Angeles county residents start preparing for holiday festivities L.A.County Public Health urges everyone to consider getting the newly updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against severe illness this winter virus season. It is recommended for everyone 6 months and older.

Keep Up With Our Facebook
Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1941 - Three days after Pearl Harbor attack, 165th and 185th Infantry Regiments assigned to Saugus; Edison power substation guarded 24/7 [timeline]
Edison substation timeline
1983 - U.S. release of John Carpenter's "Christine;" blew up fake gas station in Valencia [watch scene (R)]
Christine gas station explosion in Valencia
The annual organizational meeting and regular board meeting of the Saugus Union School District Governing Board will be held Tuesday, Dec. 12, beginning with a closed session at 5:30 p.m. followed by the open public session at 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 12: Saugus School Board to Elect New Officers
In what has become a Newhall Christmas tradition, Faith Community Church looks forward to welcoming hundreds of neighbors to the church campus for this year’s “Festividad for Christ” event.
Dec. 16: 18th Annual ‘Festividad for Christ’ Neighborhood Christmas
The regular and organizational meetings of the William S. Hart Union High School District’s Governing Board will be held Wednesday, Dec. 13, beginning at 7 p.m.
Dec. 13: Hart Board to Elect New Officers
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has added a new tool to help keep you and your family safe during the current flu, COVID-19 and RSV respiratory illness season.
Public Health Adds New Resp-Watch Survillance Report
The time for holiday cheer is here! Enjoy all the free festivities at your local Los Angeles County park this season, complete with toys, music, games, crafts, caroling and snow at select locations.
Dec. 16: Holiday in the Park, Castaic Sports Complex, Rioux Park
The Valencia Town Center mall will be spreading Christmas cheer for all to hear this season. Enjoy the sounds of season with strolling carolers throughout December.
Carolers at Valencia Town Center Bring Holiday Cheer
The Agua Dulce Women's Club held the 29th Annual Parade of Tables on Saturday, Dec. 2. Procceds from the fundrasing event will benefit local schools, scholarships and philanthropic activities, as well as the Agua Dulce Women’s Club and it’s programs.
Agua Dulce Women’s Club Parade of Tables
The Santa Clarita city council will hold its regular meeting Tuesday, Dec. 12. The council will first meet in special meeting at 5 p.m. for the annual city council reorganization where a new mayor will take up the gavel and a new mayor pro tem will be elected.
Dec. 12: City Council Meets for Annual Council Reorganization
The Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency welcomed the news that the California Department of Water Resources has taken a major step forward to make the state's water system more resilient to climate change and natural disasters while protecting and enhancing the environment in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
SCV Water Expresses Support for Delta Conveyance Project
The National Weather Service has issued the potential for Red Flag fire weather conditions for Los Angeles County Saturday, Dec. 9, to Sunday, Dec. 10.
National Weather Service Issues Red Flag Warning for L.A. County
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed Thursday 217 new laboratory confirmed cases and two additional deaths from COVID-19 in the Santa Clarita Valley within the last week.
Weekly COVID-19 Roundup: New Data Dashboards Monitor Transmission
Ken & Joe’s "Season of Giving Winter Charity Event" will be held Saturday, Dec. 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the dealership's location at 21618 Golden Triangle Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91350.
Dec. 16: Ken & Joe’s Season of Giving Winter Charity Event
Do you have a love for history and hockey? If you do, head over to The Cube—Ice and Entertainment Center, Powered by FivePoint Valencia for the “United by Hockey” Mobile Museum on Wednesday, Dec. 13, from 3 – 9 p.m.
NHL’s ‘United By Hockey’ Mobile Museum Visits Santa Clarita
The Ridge Route Preservation Organization was cleared by the Angeles National Forest to repair potholes along the north section of the Old Ridge Route from the 138 to the Tumble Inn.
Ridge Route Preservation Organization Begins Pothole Project
As Los Angeles county residents start preparing for holiday festivities L.A.County Public Health urges everyone to consider getting the newly updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against severe illness this winter virus season. It is recommended for everyone 6 months and older.
Public Health Recommends Newly Updated COVID Vaccine
The South Coast Air Quality Management District recently issued two Notices of Violations to Chiquita Canyon Landfill. One Notices of Violation was issued for the landfill’s failure to maintain the leachate collection and storage system in good operating condition, failure to report the breakdown of equipment and other permit condition violations. The other Notices of Violation was issued for failure to submit a landfill excavation plan.
AQMD Issues More Notices of Violation to Chiquita Canyon Landfill
The Federal Railroad Administration announced a $500,000 grant award from the Corridor Identification and Development Program to the High Desert Corridor Joint Powers Agency.
High Desert Corridor Project Awarded $500K Grant
1941 - Julius Dietzmann family of Castaic arrested as German enemy aliens [story]
Julius Dietzmann
Each year the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation, in collaboration with economist Dr. Mark Schniepp, releases the Economic Outlook Book.
SCVEDC’s 2023 Economic Outlook Book Now Available
The Master's University will host its acclaimed Winter 5K run on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, starting at 9 a.m.
Start 2024 at TMU’s Winter 5K
The Santa Clarita Arts Commission will hold its regular meeting Thursday, Dec. 14, at 6 p.m., in Council Chambers at City Hall.
Dec. 14: Santa Clarita Arts Commission Regular Meeting
The Castaic Union School District Governing Board will hold its regular/organizational meeting Monday, Dec. 11, at 6 p.m.
Dec. 11: CUSD Regular/Organizational Board Meeting
SCVNews.com
%d