Marin County

  • County testing wastewater for drugs

    By Richard Halstead rhalstead@marinij.com Marin officials are hoping that analysis of local wastewater will become an effective tool in addressing a surge of drug overdoses in the county, just as it was in stemming the spread of COVID-19. In early February, the Marin public health office began testing samples collected weekly at the Central Marin…

  • Just one pill: fentanyl deaths on the rise in Marin and Sonoma counties

    By: Nikki Silverstein | Jan 31, 2023 Trevor Leopold would have turned 22 on Jan. 30. Instead, he’s “forever 18,” his mother says. When Greenbrae resident Michelle Leopold received the news that her 18-year-old son died in his Sonoma State University dorm room, she didn’t need to wait for the coroner’s report to know what…

  • Upcoming Event: Friend to Friend

    Helping those you care about during challenging times TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 5:30-7:00 PM at the Mill Valley COMMUNITY CENTER (free event) Heart of the Village in partnership with the Marin County Suicide Prevention Collaborative invites you to join in this unique, transformative experience.  An evening of discussion and role playing on peer-to-peer support with mental…

  • Marin County opens emergency shelter as county braces for flooding

    BY ALEX N. GECANAGECAN@MARINIJ.COM Marin County has opened its emergency shelter for homeless residents as a series of storms descends on the Bay Area. Emergency agencies have begun passing out sandbags and warning residents in low-lying areas that more flooding could be on the way. A flood watch will be in effect from Friday evening…

  • Tribute for homeless that died in the streets

    Names are read at annual San Rafael remembrance By Richard Halstead rhalstead@marinij.com Marin’s homeless community paused this week to remember those who died while living on the streets. A memorial hosted by the San Rafael-based Street Chaplaincy held Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church of San Rafael featured a reading of the names of 21 people…

  • Big effort to reduce deadly overdoses: Fentanyl Receiving Special Attention

    By Keri Brenner kbrenner@marinij.com More than 250 Marin County activists, health officials, addiction counselors and people in recovery have joined forces to reduce the number of drug overdose deaths next year, particularly deaths involving the synthetic opioid fentanyl. “Our first step is stop the bleed, to flatten the curve,” Dr. Matt Willis, the county’s public…