Due to a sharp increase in local fentanyl-related-deaths, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors has established a collaborative countywide committee to launch a public-campaign about the drug’s deadly effects.
Deaths from fentanyl exposure in Riverside County skyrocketed by an alarming 500 percent during the past five years. The new campaign, led by the District Attorney’s office, aims to reverse the dangerous trend.
“The fentanyl crisis is too large and complex for one county department to address on its own,” District Attorney Michael Hestrin said. “I am grateful to Supervisors Karen Spiegel and Chuck Washington for bringing multiple partners together to combat the fentanyl epidemic.”
DPSS employees, Chelsea Godfrey and David Meleika, participated on the committee to develop materials and messaging about the dangers that fentanyl poses.
The campaign theme is “Faces of Fentanyl” which communicates two main points; fentanyl is in every type of drug and there isn’t a typical fentanyl user—fentanyl can impact everyone. The campaign will begin rolling out later this year.
“I look forward to the great work the campaign is doing to educate our community about the dangers of fentanyl,” Hestrin said.
To learn more about fentanyl and the county’s commitment to preventing fentanyl-related deaths, visit: https://rivcoda.org/dangers-of-fentanyl
