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Adopt a resolution recognizing August 31, 2024, as International Overdose Awareness Day and September 2024 as Recovery Month in Solano County
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Published Notice Required? Yes ___ No _X_
Public Hearing Required? Yes ___ No _X_
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Health and Social Services (H&SS), Behavioral Health Division recommends that the Board of Supervisors adopt a resolution recognizing August 31, 2024 as International Overdose Awareness Day and September 2024 as Recovery Month in Solano County.
SUMMARY:
International Overdose Awareness Day is observed on August 31 annually. The goals of the annual campaign are to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died, and acknowledge the grief of family and friends left behind. The theme for 2024 is “Together we can,” highlighting the power of our community when we all stand together.
Recovery Month, which started in 1989, is a national observance held every September to recognize the importance of substance use evidence-based treatment and recovery practices. Recovery Month now also encompasses substance use and mental health with the goal to support the strong recovery community and to honor the tireless work of recovery service providers and community members who make recovery possible.
Recovery, which now encompasses both mental health and substance use disorders, is apparent in our community, with approximately 7,208 people engaged in behavioral health services annually through Solano County Behavioral Health county-operated services or contractors. Through raising awareness and educating the community about Recovery Month, people become more alert and able to recognize the signs of mental health and substance use disorders and encourage people in need to seek help through available services.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The costs of preparing this agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the Department’s FY2024/2025 Working Budget. The costs of preparing the resolution are absorbed by the Board’s FY2024/25 Working Budget.
DISCUSSION:
Recovery Month highlights how the value of integrated care, a strong community, a sense of purpose, and leadership contribute to effective treatments that sustain recovery from substance use and mental health conditions. Recovery is a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential. Recovery signals a dramatic shift in the expectation for positive outcomes for individuals who experience mental and substance use conditions or the co-occurring of the two. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about 1/3 of adults in the U.S. had either an acute mental illness or substance use disorder in the past year. This number jumps to nearly half among young adults aged 18 to 25. Relatives, friends, and communities of people with mental health and substance use disorders must be encouraged to implement preventive measures, recognize the signs of a problem, and guide those in need toward appropriate treatment and recovery support services.
In 2023, H&SS, Behavioral Health served approximately 7,208 people: 5,878 with mental health conditions through the Mental Health Plan and 1,330 with substance use conditions through Drug Medi-Cal services, where at least 25% had a co-occurring condition. As Behavioral Health works with the Coroner’s office in tracking suicide and overdose deaths, data show that in CY2023, there were 115 overdose deaths in Solano County compared to 63 in 2022. From January - June 2024, there have been 45 deaths so far this year.
Behavioral Health partners with Drug Safe Solano, the local Opioid Coalition, to support opioid awareness, partner collaboration, and treatment, as well as the Public Health Division to fund the prevention work of the Alcohol, Tobacco, And Other Drugs (ATOD) Prevention team supported by the federal Substance Abuse Block Grant. The Opioid Settlement Funds have started to be allocated to support an increase in awareness activities, early intervention, harm reduction, and treatment expansion of substance use services. Additionally, through the expanded Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (ODS) Waiver, Behavioral Health and Partnership Health Plan of California collaborate to expand access to high acuity treatment services like residential treatment and intensive outpatient to serve the community through a regional provider network approach.
Behavioral Health and its partners are committed to improving best practices in treatment, addressing disparities and inequity, and expanding early prevention tools to improve access to services. All these efforts support our community to reduce substance misuse and prevent overdoses.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to adopt this resolution. This is not recommended because this is an opportunity to positively impact Solano County through increased awareness of a significant public health concern and treatment options.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Health and Social Services Behavioral Health Division is working with its Behavioral Health Advisory Board, community partners, Partnership Health Plan of California, Drug Safe Solano, and the Alcohol, Tobacco, And Other Drugs (ATOD) Prevention Council to promote National Recovery Month and Overdose Awareness Day.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION