Oct 11, 2022
On September 30, President Biden issued a proclamation recognizing October 2022 as National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month. This is a time to connect others to evidence-based prevention resources, thank those who work on the front lines to prevent youth substance use, and renew our commitment to building a healthier and more supportive country.
The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) supports a variety of projects to prevent youth substance use, including:
- California Youth Opioid Response, which works with local communities, service providers, and other stakeholders to prevent and reduce opioid and stimulant misuse among youth.
- Elevate Youth CA, a prevention program that invests in youth empowerment and development for youth of color, tribal youth, and LGBTQIA+ youth across the state.
- The California Friday Night Live Program, which aims to engage youth as active leaders and resources in their community and build partnerships for positive and healthy youth development.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has several evidence-based prevention resources available for individuals and organizations:
Oct 5, 2022
The United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has issued a warning that there is a new trend of brightly colored fentanyl and fentanyl pills across the country, called “rainbow fentanyl.” Rainbow fentanyl can be found in many forms, including pills, powders, and blocks.
In response to this alert, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has released a Fentanyl and Overdose Prevention Communications Toolkit, which organizations and individuals can use to share information about the risks of fentanyl and how to prevent overdose. The toolkit includes images and messaging for use on social media to raise awareness about fentanyl in both Spanish and English.
Other resources:
If you encounter fentanyl in any form, do not handle it and call 911 immediately.
Sep 30, 2022
On September 23, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced the distribution of funds for the State Opioid Response (SOR) III grant program. California will receive approximately $107 million per year for two years, for a total of $214 million.
As a part of its continued effort to address the opioid crisis, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is investing these funds in prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery through the California Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Expansion Project. DHCS will integrate other funding sources into the MAT Expansion Project as well, including State General Funds and Opioid Settlement Funds.
The grants will fund over 20 projects, many of which have continued from the prior Fiscal Year 2018 and 2020 State Targeted Response (STR) and SOR grants. Major efforts underway in California include:
- California Youth Opioid Response (YOR): The YOR Project works with local communities, service providers, and other stakeholders to prevent and reduce opioid and stimulant misuse, use disorders, and overdose deaths among youth.
- Tribal MAT Project: The Tribal MAT Project is designed to meet the specific opioid use disorder (OUD) prevention, treatment, and recovery needs of California’s Tribal and Urban Indian communities. The project includes naloxone distribution and training, local tribal opioid coalitions, and training initiatives for providers offering services in tribal areas, among other culturally informed prevention, treatment, and recovery activities.
- CA Bridge: The CA Bridge Program is developing hospitals and emergency rooms into primary access points for the treatment of substance use disorder. The program also connects individuals to medication for OUD in the emergency room, followed by ongoing care in the community.
- Hub & Spoke System (H&SS): The H&SS Project provides treatment and recovery services in Regional Centers of Excellence across the state.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, find help at ChooseMAT.org.
Aug 31, 2022
On International Overdose Awareness Day, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is announcing the awarding of $79.1 million in overdose prevention grants, as part of President Biden’s National Drug Control Strategy, the HHS Overdose Prevention Strategy, and the Biden-Harris Unity Agenda to address the opioid and overdose epidemic.
Read more about the grant funding at SAMHSA’s website.
Jul 16, 2022
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is now active across the United States. The 988 Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. This new, shorter phone number will make it easier for people to remember and access mental health crisis services. (Please note, the previous 1-800-273-TALK (8255) number will continue to function indefinitely.) The Lifeline accepts calls, texts, and chats from anyone who needs support for a suicidal, mental health and/or substance use crisis.
Visit California’s 988 website to access resources or chat with a trained counselor.
May 19, 2022
On May 19, 2022, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released the State Opioid Response (SOR) III Notice of Funding Opportunity. California has been tentatively allocated $107,038,177 per year for two years, for a total of $214,076,354 from September 30, 2022 through September 29, 2024. The California Department of Health Care Services’ (DHCS) application is due to SAMHSA on July 18, 2022. DHCS will use these funds to support and supplement the State’s Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Expansion Project activities.
The funds were announced at an important time, as California and other states have seen an increase in overdoses and barriers to services due to COVID-19 and the proliferation of illicit fentanyl. More than 105,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2021, including 10,300 Californians.
DHCS will host a listening session to solicit feedback and inform California’s SOR III opioid, stimulant, and co-occurring prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery service activities.
To learn more about ongoing SOR grant projects, visit the California MAT website at https://californiaopioidresponse.org/. For specific questions related to the listening session, please email DHCSMATExpansion@dhcs.ca.gov.
