Annual Summit Marks Progress in Fentanyl Awareness

Sacramento County’s annual Fentanyl Awareness Summit is back this year with a renewed sense of urgency and hope. Hosted by the Sacramento County Department of Health Services, in collaboration with the Sacramento County Opioid Coalition; Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society; California State University, Sacramento; the US Attorney’s Office; Sac Metro Fire and local law enforcement, the event will take place on Sept. 4, 2025.

The summit aims to bring community members together to analyze data trends, discuss prevention, treatment, harm reduction and enforcement efforts, hear from those with lived experiences, provide resources and support ongoing solutions for a safer community.​

This year’s event centers around a message that sets it apart from previous summits: fentanyl-related deaths are declining in Sacramento County for the second year in a row. After years of staggering increases, new data shows another year of progress. The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office reported a 32% reduction in fentanyl-related deaths from 2023 to 2024.It’s a promising sign that prevention, education, treatment and enforcement efforts are making an impact.

“We know we still have a long road ahead, but this decline is something to hold onto,” said Lori Miller, Division Manager for Sacramento County’s Substance Use Prevention and Treatment. “It shows that our work is saving lives.”

If you’d like to attend the summit and learn how you can support a safer community, make sure to register online. If you cannot attend, there are still many ways to get involved and help keep the momentum going:

• Educate and Advocate: Learn and spread the word about campaigns like Safer Sacramento and 1 Pill Can Kill.
• Wear Purple on Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day (Thursday, Aug. 21). Take this time to educate the public on the dangers of fentanyl, fake pills and other illicit drugs, while also highlighting the difference between fentanyl poisoning and overdose. 
• Wear Purple on International Overdose Awareness Day (Sunday, Aug. 31). This globally observed day aims to reduce the stigma associated with drug-related deaths, remember those lost and acknowledge the grief endured by their loved ones.
• Join the Opioid Coalition. Meetings are held quarterly. Visit the Sacramento County Opiod Coalition Website for the meeting schedule and more information.
• Share Your Loved One’s Story through an Opioid Awareness Project featuring Gone Too Soon Memorial Posters, commemorating the precious lives lost in Sacramento and surrounding counties. Those interested should contact Lori Miller at Millerlori@saccounty.gov.
• Watch and Share “The Ripple Effect.” Sacramento County’s Department of Health Service’s Sacramento Substance Use Prevention and Treatment, in collaboration with NTI Upstream, proudly presents The Ripple Effect – a powerful nine-part documentary blog series exposing the devastating impact of the fentanyl crisis in the United States, with a sharp focus on Sacramento County. Each episode offers an in-depth exploration of the epidemic’s roots, its far-reaching impact on individuals and communities, and the determined local response aimed at prevention, education and recovery. The Ripple Effect is available on the Safer Sacramento website.

For more information and resources, call BHS-SAC at 916-875-1055 for a substance use assessment or visit Sacramento County’s Department of Health Services.

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