San Mateo County developing plan to combat opioid, fentanyl crisis

FILE – A display of the fentanyl and meth that was seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Nogales Port of Entry is shown during a press conference, Jan. 31, 2019, in Nogales, Ariz. On Tuesday, Feb. 7, President Joe Biden faced harsh rebukes from multiple angles as he spoke during his State of the Union address about trying to contain a drug overdose crisis driven by powerful illicit synthetic opioids like fentanyl, that has been killing more than 100,000 people a year in the U.S. (Mamta Popat/Arizona Daily Star via AP, File)

by: Sophia Villalba

Posted: May 31, 2023 / 06:45 AM PDT

Updated: May 31, 2023 / 06:45 AM PDT

SAN MATEO COUNTY, Calif. (KRON) – The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors are working to combat the county’s opioid and fentanyl crisis.

On Tuesday, supervisors directed the county’s staff to develop a plan that focuses on treatment options, education on fentanyl and opioids for the public and more access to life-saving medication for overdoses.

“As the parent of a college sophomore and a recent college grad, this is an issue that feels very personal to me,” said Dave Pine, president of the Board of Supervisors and organizer of the session. “I think the emphasis on education just has to be continuously called out. Our best approach is educating residents, especially youth and young adults, about the lethality of these drugs.”

According to a report by the county, there were 66 fentanyl-related deaths in 2021. “Any death is tragic,” said Dr. Scott Morrow, San Mateo County health officer. “It is assured that youth use and youth death will increase.”