Fentanyl Deaths Fall in Sacramento County

Good news might be on the horizon for Sacramento County. Overdose deaths are dropping, and the number of people dying from fentanyl poisoning is going down too. Just last year, 403 people lost their lives to fentanyl in the county. This year, that number has fallen to 157. That’s a big change! Placer County is also seeing a decrease, with only nine deaths so far this year compared to 49 last year. Why is this happening? Some people think it's because there are more programs and services to help people with substance use issues. Plus, more people have access to medications that can reverse an overdose, like naloxone. But experts warn that the holiday season might bring a rise in deaths again. So, let's stay alert and keep working to prevent these tragedies. Yolo County couldn't provide their numbers yet. And San Joaquin County is facing an increase in fentanyl and opioid deaths this year. They're trying to raise awareness with their "Fentanyl is Fatal" campaign and offering Narcan through vending machines. It’s a reminder that this problem is still very real, and we need to keep fighting it.