Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

signal status listen live donate
listen live donate signal status
listen live donate signal status
  • News
    • topics
    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • genres
    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic
    • Daily Playlist
  • Programs + Podcasts
    • news
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Marketplace
    • Insight With Vicki Gonzalez
    • music
    • Acid Jazz
    • At the Opera
    • Classical Music
    • Connections
    • Excellence in Jazz
    • Hey, Listen!
    • K-ZAP on CapRadio
    • Mick Martin's Blues Party
    • Programs A-Z
    • Podcast Directory
  • Schedules
    • News
    • Music
    • ClassicalStream
    • JazzStream
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Daily Playlist
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • CapRadio Garden
    • CapRadio Reads
    • Ticket Giveaways
  • Support
    • Evergreen Gift
    • One-Time Gift
    • Corporate Support
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Gift
    • Legacy Gift
    • Endowment Gift
    • Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • e‑Newsletter
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • Health Care
  • State Government
  •  

California Health Officials Tackle Opioid Crisis With Help From Counties

  •  Sammy Caiola 
Thursday, November 9, 2017 | Sacramento, CA
  

President Donald Trump declared the opioid epidemic a national public health crisis last month, but didn’t specify any new funding to combat the problem. California health officials say their efforts to reduce overdose deaths are already in full swing.

“At this point it’s a little hard to anticipate what exactly the results may be,” said Dr. Karen Smith, director of the California Department of Public Health. “We really aren’t sure how that’s going to actually play out, what the specific implications are for action. But there’s no question that it’s very important to have very public national recognition of the issue.”

California already receives funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to address the opioid crisis. They’ve gotten more than $10 million in federal and state grants since 2015.

There were 1,925 opioid-related deaths in California in 2016, up from 1,449 in 2014. Most happened in rural northern counties.

To combat the problem, the state health department is funding community coalitions in 16 counties where opioid overdoses are most prevalent. The coalitions gather law enforcement, local government, regional funders and substance abuse workers to provide public education and encourage safe prescription practices.

“That’s one of the most exciting pieces of this work because that’s where I see a level of sustainability irrespective of federal funding,” Smith said.

A new law that takes effect in January will require all California physicians to consult the national database of patient prescription histories before putting someone on a new drug.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

    Related Stories

  • A. / Flickr

    Prescription Database Could Help Prevent Opioid Abuse, But State System Still Lags

    Friday, March 30, 2018
    An opioid prescription database that was supposed to be a required part of physician practice two years ago still isn’t ready to use. Patient advocates say it’s costing lives.
  • ep_jhu / Flickr

    California Boosts Access to Opioid Addiction Treatments

    Friday, April 28, 2017
    The state aims to boost support for physicians to prescribing opioid addiction treatment drugs.
  • A. / Flickr

    Feds Grant Nevada $5.6 Million To Combat Opioid Crisis

    Friday, April 28, 2017
    Nevada is receiving $5.6 million from the federal government to combat an opioid crisis largely stemming from addiction to prescription painkillers.
  • Opioid-Related Overdose Count Rises In Sacramento Region

    Friday, April 1, 2016
    The Sacramento County Department of Health and Human Services says there have been 36 fentanyl overdoses -- including nine deaths in the past two weeks.

 trumpnaloxonecdphopioidcrisisopioid epidemicopiodoverdoseNarcan

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Sammy Caiola

Former Healthcare Reporter

Sammy Caiola has been covering medical breakthroughs, fitness fads and health policy in California since 2014. Before joining CapRadio, Sammy was a health reporter at The Sacramento Bee.  Read Full Bio 

 @sammycaiola Email Sammy Caiola

Coronavirus Newsletter

Get answers to your questions, the latest updates and easy access to the resources you need, delivered to your inbox.

 

Want to know what to expect? Here's a recent newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

We'll send you weekly emails so you can stay informed about the coronavirus in California.

Browse all newsletters

More Health Care Stories

Scott Olson/Getty Images

FDA authorizes first COVID booster for children ages 5 to 11

May 17, 2022

ANNA MARIA BARRY-JESTER/KHN

Rural California Hatches Plan for Engineered Mosquitoes to Battle Stealthy Predator

May 11, 2022

Alisha Jucevic / CalMatters

California spent millions to boost COVID vaccination rates of Medi-Cal members — but they lag even more

May 11, 2022

Most Viewed

Downtown Sacramento shooting: What we know and latest updates

U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla will appear on California’s June primary ballot twice. Here’s why.

California coronavirus updates: FDA approves booster shots for children ages 5 to 11

Austin Bombing Suspect, Mark Anthony Conditt, Left A 'Confession' Before Standoff

With California budget surplus projected at $97 billion, Newsom proposes driver rebates, more reproductive health funding

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

Downtown Sacramento shooting: What we know and latest updates

U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla will appear on California’s June primary ballot twice. Here’s why.

California coronavirus updates: FDA approves booster shots for children ages 5 to 11

Austin Bombing Suspect, Mark Anthony Conditt, Left A 'Confession' Before Standoff

With California budget surplus projected at $97 billion, Newsom proposes driver rebates, more reproductive health funding

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    • (916) 278-8900
    • Toll-free (877) 480-5900
    • Email Us
    • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact Us

  • About Us

    • Contact Us / Feedback
    • Coverage
    • Directions
    • Careers & Internships
    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Press
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile App
    • On Air Schedules
    • Smart Speakers
    • Playlist
    • Podcasts
    • RSS
  • Connect With Us

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2022, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.