Report criticizes Monterey County fentanyl response
MONTEREY – A new report is critical of Monterey County’s effort to stem the fentanyl crisis that is continuing to kill people, including kids, throughout the county.
The data can be alarming. More than four in 10 Americans know someone who died from a drug overdose, according to a Rand Survey released earlier this year. In 2022, drug overdoses were the primary cause of death for both men and women between the ages of 25 and 54 in California. For young adults between the ages of 15 and 24, overdoses were the second leading cause of death.
The Monterey Civil Grand Jury investigated county efforts and released a report this week citing opportunities for Monterey County schools to provide outreach efforts to students and parents as well as a struggle by the county Health Department to finalize a plan to distribute some $2 million from settlements with drug manufacturers.
A civil grand jury is designed to review county and city performances and make findings and recommendations. Unlike a criminal grand jury, civil juries have no subpoena power and cannot issue fines or other punitive actions.
“Although Monterey County received more than $2 million in opioid settlement funds in 2022 and 2023, it has yet to approve the final plan for the allocation of the funds,” the report states. “This funding delay compromises equitable countywide responsiveness to the fentanyl crisis and puts lives at risk.”
Karen Smith, the public information officer for the Health Department, said in a statement Friday that the fentanyl and opioid crisis is complicated and continues to require many partners in a wide variety of disciplines to respond.
“(Health Department) staff continues to work with community partners to finalize a plan for disbursement of opioid funding for outreach and engagement of youth and residents through direct contact and social media campaign, and distribution of naloxone and fentanyl testing strips through community townhalls and kiosks in areas of greatest need,” the statement read.
“In addition, the plan will include community-based treatment services that are accessible to residents in areas of greatest need,” Smith added.
While a funding distribution plan is in the works, the health department and its partners had already come together to provide public educational campaigns, naloxone distribution, as well as health provider education in response to the fentanyl problem, the health department said.
Naloxone, also known by its brand name Narcan, can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose if it is administered in time to counter such symptoms such as respiratory depression that can turn fatal.
The health department will complete final plan by July 31, as requested by the grand jury, Smith said.
The grand jury also released concerns about the county Office of Education’s efforts to provide fentanyl education beyond what is required in the state Education Codes.
The jury specifically referenced state Senate Bill 10, which mandates that every public school in California provide training to school employees on opioid prevention and life-saving response under a formal plan known as a Comprehensive School Safety Plan. Additionally, the bill ensures that all students and adults understand the growing risk of youth fentanyl exposure and have access to the resources needed to prevent and respond to fentanyl overdoses.
The jury also recommends that county schools create more wellness centers and youth leadership programs for mental health and fentanyl awareness.
Deneen Guss, the county superintendent of schools, said in a statement that the report underscores the urgent need for coordinated action to address this growing threat, and that the Office of Education plays a vital role in the safety and well-being of students and is diligently working to combat this crisis through our Monterey County Safe and Healthy Schools and Communities Coalition.
“(The Office of Education) is also working in partnership with Montage Health’s Prescribe Safe program, local school districts and collaborating with many other community organizations to create effective prevention education programs, professional development opportunities for our educators, trainings for students and families, as well as many other strategies to strengthen collective efforts in addressing the fentanyl crisis amongst youth,” Guss said in the statement.
She continued saying that “while fentanyl has been present in our community for years, there has definitely been a notable surge with the rise of mental health challenges we are seeing in our schools and communities. Overall, the fentanyl crisis is a complex and urgent issue, and we need to engage our entire community in helping to address this devastating crisis.”
The Office of Education has already started putting together responses to the grand jury report, Guss added.
Some of the grand jury recommendations would require additional funding or additional staff time to carry out at a time when nearly all local government agencies are struggling with both staffing and budget challenges.
For a deeper look at the local fentanyl crisis see the Monterey Herald story at https://www.montereyherald.com/2024/01/27/monterey-county-the-local-battle-in-the-fentanyl-crisis/ .
