Riverside County launches awareness campaign after increase in fentanyl deaths over past 5 years Riverside County - Fentanyl HEAD TOPICS
Riverside County launches awareness campaign after increase in fentanyl deaths over past 5 years
10/21/2022 6:16:00 PM Riverside County launches awareness campaign after increase in fentanyl deaths over past 5 years
Riverside County Fentanyl
Source ABC7 Eyewitness News
Riverside County launches awareness campaign after increase in fentanyl deaths over past 5 years The number of fentanyl-related deaths is skyrocketing all across Southern California, prompting Riverside County to launch a new ad campaign in hopes of raising awareness. "Fentanyl is murdering our kids," said Christina Rodriguez, whose son Ernie Gutierrez died on Aug. 24, 2021. Rodriguez said the coroner found meth and fentanyl in his system."It's everywhere. It's on our baseball fields, it's on social media, it's in the hands of our college students. It's on the streets in the hands of the mentally ill." Rodriguez said her son suffered from mental illness and depression around the age of 16. She said he was undergoing treatment, but finding the right medication was difficult. That's when she said he began using illicit drugs."Although a lot of us may not understand why some people resort to drugs to deal with their mental illness, their stress or their anxiety, they are most likely seeking relief from how they felt, not death," Rodriguez added. Read more:
ABC7 Eyewitness News » Attacking fentanyl on all fronts, Inland Empire launches public awareness, health campaigns Spike in Teen Fentanyl Deaths Prompts Prevention, Awareness Effort in South Bay More than 1.2 million voters are registered in Bexar County ahead of Election Day California woman charged with murder in deadly fentanyl poisoning Steve Bannon sentenced to 4 months in prison for contempt of Congress CNN Politics
Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon was sentenced Friday after he was found guilty in July of two counts of contempt of Congress. Follow here for the latest live news updates. Read more >> Problem will only keep getting worse if you don't hold the dealers accountable. California is a pro crime state. This is the result of Democrat voters and politicians. Attacking fentanyl on all fronts, Inland Empire launches public awareness, health campaignsSkyrocketing deaths have been attributed to the synthetic opioid in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, spurring new programs across several departments. Spike in Teen Fentanyl Deaths Prompts Prevention, Awareness Effort in South BayIn Los Gatos High School Thursday night, parents, students and community members gathered to learn about the crisis with fentanyl -- the synthetic opioid that is taking a growing number of lives across the country and in the Bay Area. More than 1.2 million voters are registered in Bexar County ahead of Election DayYou can expect to see many more voters heading to the polls in Bexar County on Election Day this year than in past years. California woman charged with murder in deadly fentanyl poisoningFRESNO, Calif. — A California woman has been charged with murder for allegedly selling fentanyl-laced pills involved in the death of a Fresno resident earlier this year. 'Make the Call' campaign reminds public to call 911 to prevent overdose deathsThe Pima County Attorney's office, Pima County Sheriff's Department and Tucson Police Department are joining forces to spread the word about overdose awareness in the community. At a Thursday press conference in downtown Riverside, parents whose children have died from fentanyl use sounded the alarm.338 deaths this year Sheriff Chad Bianco said 338 fentanyl-related deaths have been confirmed so far this year.Landscapers Discover Car Buried in Atherton Backyard: Police Jan Blom explained to the auditorium in Los Gatos that his son, Linus, had a very similar experience.the county to add more sites . "Fentanyl is murdering our kids," said Christina Rodriguez, whose son Ernie Gutierrez died on Aug. 24, 2021. “It will far exceed last year’s death toll of 407 people. Rodriguez said the coroner found meth and fentanyl in his system. In July of 2020, just before Linus' 18th birthday, he took a pill he believed to be Percocet, his dad said. "It's everywhere.” Since Jan. It's on our baseball fields, it's on social media, it's in the hands of our college students. She asks that the public be patient and civil at the polls this year following a series of “irate” phone calls. It's on the streets in the hands of the mentally ill.7 million fentanyl pills and 398 pounds of fentanyl powder. "It has had a tremendous impact on our community, especially as we have grieved with those families," said Bill Sanderson, superintendent of Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District." Rodriguez said her son suffered from mental illness and depression around the age of 16. She said he was undergoing treatment, but finding the right medication was difficult. Sheriff’s investigators have submitted 19 cases of fentanyl-related homicide to the District Attorney’s Office and four cases to the U. That's when she said he began using illicit drugs. The county medical examiner's dashboard now indicates that fentanyl deaths make up more than 80% of opioid deaths in the past year. "Although a lot of us may not understand why some people resort to drugs to deal with their mental illness, their stress or their anxiety, they are most likely seeking relief from how they felt, not death," Rodriguez added. Attorney’s Office, Bianco said, adding, “We arrested another person for (fentany-related) homicide this morning. to learn where to cast your ballot early or for more information ahead of Election Day . She joined several Riverside County officials Thursday as they announced the new campaign, The Faces of Fentanyl. Five years ago, officials said about 30 people in Riverside County died from fentanyl overdoses. “We must continue to prosecute these cases. Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, A graph from the California Department of Public Health Overdose Dashboard depicting the number of Fentanyl related overdose deaths in Santa Clara County. That number skyrocketed to 406 fentanyl-related deaths in 2021. "Fentanyl is becoming rampant in our communities," said District Attorney Mike Hestrin. Multifaceted approach Most stressed during Thursday’s news conference was the county’s pioneering and multifaceted approach to tackling the fentanyl epidemic from the criminal justice, recovery and rehabilitation fronts. "It's now found in all drugs: methamphetamine, cocaine, pills, and in some cases even marijuana. “It’s very very easy, you do two puffs [of the Narcan nasal spray] and the person comes back to life,” explained Parwiz-Shamel. Often the user does not know that they're consuming fentanyl. “Our goal is to bring all the different disciplines together to share information, the data and resources, with the mission to prevent poisonings,” Spiegel said." Riverside County health officials are also educating people on the drug Narcan, which can often reverse the effects of fentanyl if it's not taken too late. "Narcan can be lifesaving.” Other county agencies have partnered in the effort, including Riverside University Health Systems, the county mental health and social services departments, the emergency management division, the county executive office, public health and the Probation Department. “And I’ve heard it kills a lot of people and I’m hoping that’s not me,” said Sidney Rowe, a 17-year-old who was in attendance. It is one of the only things you can use after an overdose to save a life," said county health officer Dr. Geoffrey Leung. “We must continue to save lives,” she said. "Many places are looking into making sure they have Narcan on site and available just in that type of event." As the supply of fentanyl doesn't appear to be going away, the county is planning more awareness events like this in the future." The Faces of Fentanyl ad campaign will cost Riverside County taxpayers $300,000 and run for three months. Fentanyl-related deaths increased from 28 in 2017 to 406 in 2021 — an increase of 1,350%. The campaign will include billboards, and videos that run on social media platforms. Copyright © 2022 KABC Television, LLC. The behavioral health department, Leung said, has established 13 substance abuse clinics across the county, with six programs tailored specifically for opiod use disorders, and the new Arlington Recovery and Sobering Center helps the addicted detox and transition into rehabilitation. All rights reserved. Related Topics . Other counties across Southern California have started to join in the cause.