California Mobilizes 112 Community Organizations Against the Overdose Crisis With Over $21M for Prevention and Care
California is partnering with 112 community organizations to prevent opioid and stimulant use, reduce overdose risk, and connect people to treatment and recovery services, the Governor's Office announced on October 30. Through the Department of Health Care Services' (DHCS) Opioid and Stimulant Use Disorder Prevention and Education Program, which is investing more than $21 million statewide, trusted community organizations will provide outreach and education, distribute naloxone, host workshops, offer peer navigation, and strengthen local connections to treatment and recovery.
"California is acting with urgency to save lives and strengthen communities," said Governor Gavin Newsom. "By partnering with local organizations that people know and trust, we are expanding prevention, education, and pathways to treatment so more Californians can get help and heal." DHCS Director Michelle Baass said the investments empower local partners to meet people where they are, reduce stigma, and open doors to vital services.
In one year, from September 2024 to September 2025, the program reported 28,109 patients receiving opioid use disorder treatment services, 6,713 receiving stimulant disorder treatment, 24,274 receiving recovery support services, 14,090 new patients starting medications for opioid use disorder, and an estimated 164,349 individuals — including 11,029 school-aged youth — receiving prevention education. The newly awarded organizations will carry out their activities from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2027, funded through the federal State Opioid Response (SOR) IV grant.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：可逆转阿片过量的急救药物纳洛酮。CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Naloxone, a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
