LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As part of its campaign to reverse the opioid crisis, which claimed 63 lives in Lake County between 2014 and 2017, SafeRx Lake County has committed to participate in three outreach events over the coming month.

Additionally, SafeRx will be meeting with state legislators on Sept. 26 to lobby for support.

“Our presence at these events will focus on Medically-Assisted Treatments, or MAT,” said Lisa Hardy, an AmeriCorps VISTA working with SafeRx. “MAT has proven to reduce overdose deaths, and has documented successes of full patient recovery from opioid addiction.”

AmeriCorps VISTA, a national service program, has matched the community’s urgent need by assigning three more full-time AmeriCorps Volunteers to serve in the coalition within the past two weeks.

“The crisis has affected all parts of our community, and contributes to poverty, crime, destruction of families and lives, and most unfortunately, death,” says Susan Reed, SafeRx’s coordinator. “Our strategy in preventing overdose death is to implement initiatives pervasively throughout all areas where we can make a difference. We’re looking at every angle.”

SafeRx is currently addressing areas such as awareness, youth education, law enforcement, medically-assisted treatments, Naloxone distribution (an overdose reversal medicine), safe prescribing, data collection and analysis, community enrichment, partnerships and outreach.

SafeRx is determined to reverse the opioid crisis, and seeks any and all support the community can offer at the following events:

· Recovery Happens: Sept. 15, Austin Park, Clearlake;
· Veterans Stand Down: Sept. 19 and 20, Lake County Fairgrounds, Lakeport;
· Heroes of Safety and Health: Oct. 13, Lake County Fairgrounds, Lakeport.

For more information about SafeRx Lake County, please visit www.saferxlakecounty.org.

SafeRx seeks to create a healthier and safer community by improving the quality of life and functionality of individuals with pain, and reducing harm from prescription drug misuse and abuse through collaborative partnerships that focus on prevention, treatment and recovery.