Friday, May 17, 2024
5/17/2024
The San Rafael Opioid Prevention Campaign is a three-year youth-led project to address opioid abuse and prescription drug abuse in San Rafael, California. The project mobilizes youth, parents and educators to reach into schools and work with medical prescribers and pharmacies to do their part. It is a project of the San Rafael Alcohol and Drug Coalition and Alcohol Justice. San Rafael has a population of 59,000 people, 11,000 non-citizens and 17,000 Latino-identified. Among youth in San Rafael there is a rate of heroin use that may be as high as ten times the national average. Usage of prescription pain relievers that is twice as high as the national average. There are few prescription drug takeback locations leaving too many pills on the shelves, while the largest sales in the entire county of such drugs is at a downtown pharmacy. With a concentration of low-income and Spanish-language or immigrant populations in the Canal District, over 15,000 people, it is beyond time to address attitudes towards opiates, usage of heroin and over-prescribing in a vulnerable population. The San Rafael Alcohol and Drug Coalition is broad coalition in the city, fiscally sponsored by Alcohol Justice with a history of addressing alcohol and marijuana prevention. As part of the CARA Act, an opioid crises prevention initiative of the Trump administration, the Coalition is excited to mobilize law enforcement, providers, pharmacists, youth, parents, county and city government, businesses, parents and faith in developing a prevention plan for schools, physicians, pharmacies and the city. From June 15, 2018, to June 14, 2021, San Rafael Alcohol and Drug Coalition (SRADC) will oversee the prevention and reduction of opioid and prescription medication abuse among youth in the City of San Rafael. The goals over three years are: 1. Youth-led prevention education through school outreach face-to-face with 1,962 8th and 10th grade students 2. Youth prevention training and youth-led neighborhood prevention outreach canvassing and conversations at 15,000 households 3. 100% health care provider commitment (433 doctors) to reduction in prescriptions. 4. Increase safe disposal of pills and needles at pharmacies at four sites accessible to communities 5. Create and implement a comprehensive plan with 50 policy-makers to reduce and prevent the abuse of opioids in the city of San Rafael.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
