Sheriff’s Office Posts Daunting Data on Overdose Deaths; Announces Free Narcan Distribution Program

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is sharing its latest data on overdose death statistics in the county, which reveals the situation continues to escalate.

A total of 168 overdose deaths occurred in 2022, with 115 of them being related to fentanyl. This compares to 133 total overdose deaths in 2021, with 78 related to fentanyl. In 2020, there were 113 total overdoses with 37 related to fentanyl.

In light of these alarming statistics, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is taking action.

The Sheriff’s Office and Project Opioid, a diverse coalition of community leaders from various disciplines, are committed to addressing the opioid crisis and saving lives. To this end, they are supporting the distribution of Narcan, a drug that reverses the often-lethal effects of an opioid overdose.

“Narcan is a harmless, yet miraculous drug that reverses the often lethal effects of an opioid overdose,” Sheriff Bill Brown said. “Simply put, it’s easy to use and it saves lives.

“Making more Narcan available to community members will help us lower the unacceptably high rate of overdose deaths we are seeing in our community and across the nation.”

Beginning this week, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a free Narcan Distribution Program through the Department of Health Care Services, Naloxone Distribution Project (NDP). Sign Up for the A.M. Report

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The distribution program will be held at Sheriff’s Headquarters, 4434 Calle Real, Santa Barbara, as well as the substations in Carpinteria, 5775 Carpinteria Ave., and Santa Maria, 812 W. Foster Road.

The program aims to distribute Narcan to community members and increase awareness about the opioid crisis and the importance of Narcan in saving lives.

Community members can come to the lobby of one of the three stations during business hours, obtain information about a short instructional video, and receive Narcan.

This program is free and participants are not required to provide personal information.

The Sheriff’s Office is joining its partners in Project Opioid who also have Narcan distribution programs, including the Pacific Pride Foundation, the Santa Barbara Opioid Safety Coalition, UCSB Student Health Services Alcohol and Drug Program, and Fentanyl is Forever SB.

Project Opioid members are committed to working together to address the opioid crisis and reduce the number of overdose deaths in the county.