SBC Opioid Task Force Newsletter Volume 2- Issue IV - February 2021 | Website
Creating an informed accountable community to decrease opioid use and misuse. SBC OTF is a cross-collaborative community coalition dedicated to preventing substance use and saving lives.
Upcoming Meeting:

March 18, 2021
10:00 - 11:30 am
With the postponement of our first meeting of the year due to everyone's extremely busy schedules due to COVID-19 response, we will be resuming our normal large group meeting through Zoom on March 18, 2021 from 10:00 am to 11:30 am. We look forward to "seeing" you all then.
Updates
Tri-County Collaboration
Recently, the San Benito County Opioid Task Force has been participating in Tri-County Meetings with Monterey County's Prescribe Safe and Santa Cruz's SafeRx Overdose Prevention Coalitions. Being a small county many of our residents share providers and services and we have been working directly with the other coalitions to further the work of the Opioid Task Force.
If you would like to join these meetings please email Veronica Johnson, vjohnson@cosb.us for more information.
Youth Alliance
Invites you to
Face & Heart/ Cara Y Corazón
Join Youth Alliance as they come together with the community to discuss how to continue strengthening our community's families, our communication, and to inspire our children.

Sessions in English are every other Wednesday at 7pm starting March 10th.

Sessions in Spanish are every other Wednesday at 7pm starting on March 3rd.

For more info contact:
Lorena Villagomez
831-265-1243
Lorena@youthall.org
An Epidemic During a Pandemic:
Increase in Fatal Drug Overdoses Across the US Driven by the Synthetic Opioids Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
In this CDC health advisory discusses the substantial increases in drug overdose deaths in the US likely illicitly manufactured fentanyl, with the largest increase recorded from March 2020 to May 2020, coinciding with the implementation of widespread mitigation measures for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Below are some other related news links:
San Benito Sheriff's Captain Log
In Captain Taylor's eigth installment of his column, The Politics of Policing, discusses what inspired him to work in law enforcement, and how the job has become increasingly politicized.

Monterey County's
Recovery Run 2021
The goal of this event is to bring attention to the addiction problem and to encourage healthy lifestyles and to highlight successful community members in long-term recovery from addiction and give the friends and families of those who have lost their lives to addiction a chance to honor their memories.

This year’s event is a virtual run/walk! All registrants will receive a race t-shirt that will be mailed in the first week of March. They are also asking everyone to upload a video or picture of themselves to social media utilizing #recoveryrun2021showing their support and letting us know why they are doing the run.

The virtual race event will be held on May 1st, 2021 and will highlight some of the pictures and videos that we receive.
Sweeping Federal Drug Bust Includes Arrests in Gilroy
At a press conference Feb. 11, the FBI was joined by Northern District of California District Attorney Dave Anderson and other law enforcement officials in spelling out the enormity of the operation—dubbed Operation Burnt Orange—that included 15 cases and federal charges against 44 defendants.
Officials seized around 1,100 pounds of methamphetamine, in addition to approximately 500 grams of Fentanyl, 20 pounds of cocaine, 20 pounds of heroin, over a dozen firearms and more than $200,000 in cash, Anderson said. Charges will include drug and weapons trafficking and conspiracy
Hollister Police Department Makes Multiple Arrests for Drug Possession for Sale
Hollister Police Department made multiple arrests this month which included possession of marijuana, narcotics, suspected methamphetamine, and suspected heroin, as well as other items commonly used to sell drugs.

Click here for more info:
  • HPD arrests man for DUI and possession of drugs for sale
  • Hollister Police Arrest Suspect for a Stolen Vehicle and Drug Sales
  • Police seize two handguns during traffic stop
Resources
Medication Disposal Envelopes
Due to the current restrictions from COVID-19, we understand now is more important than ever to ensure unused and expired medication is safely stored and properly disposed of.

You can obtain free medication envelopes from our local pharmacies or by clicking below to request from public health. These free Take Away envelopes were obtained through multiple grants awarded to the Opioid Task Force.
Narcan
Free Narcan nasal spray is still available, if you haven't been trained you will be given a quick training on when and how to use the nasal spray.

We are able to provide Narcan trainings as well to any agency or organization that would like it. If your Narcan has expired we can also dispose of it and replace it.

For more info contact vjohnson@cosb.us or fill out the form below
The Opioid Crisis: San Benito County Video
Prevention education and outreach opportunities have completely changed over the last year with COVID-19 and we have been working diligently to meet the needs of the community and providing outreach and education virtually. We are fortunate to have great agencies who have allowed us to partner with them such as San Benito County Behavioral Health as well as San Benito County Free Library. Through 3 virtual presentations we have been able to reach over 1,100 people.

Below are the links for the videos and we encourage you to share them.
Anonymous Question & Answer
Check out our anonymous question and answer section of our website. Once questions are submitted, they will be answered in the frequently asked questions section.

Please feel free to submit any questions and share this new feature.
San Benito County Opioid Task Force | Website