The strength of OD Free Marin lives within the commitment of our committee members. OD Free Marin interviewed Laura Kandell, the Education & Outreach Action Team Co Chair, to hear more from someone who is committed to being of service. From working in healthcare, then transitioning to social services, Laura has exhibited a deep passion…
Launched in December 2024 and running throughout January 2025, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) initiated outreach and educational efforts to invite public feedback on overdose prevention priorities in the community. The insights provided were utilized to inform the proposed allocations of opioid settlement funds presented to the Board of Supervisors last month…
Youth Perspective: Why do Marin teens use? Youth substance use in Marin County is significantly higher than the California state average. According to the California Healthy Kids Survey, nearly twice as many Marin County students reported using one or more substances in the past 30 days compared to students statewide. Rates of alcohol, marijuana, and…
A drug called buprenorphine may be the best tool doctors have to fight the fentanyl crisis. Why hasn’t it been more widely adopted?
PHI’s Bridge saves lives by making it possible for people who use drugs to get treatment at any hospital—whenever and wherever they need it. Today, emergency rooms across the country implementing the Bridge program provide thousands of patients with equitable, accessible evidence-based care. Moises Velasquez-Manoff of The New York Times Magazine spent 18 months observing PHI’s Bridge…
Follows explosion of drug fatalities during pandemic Source: Marin Independent Journal Overdose deaths in California have significantly decreased for nine consecutive months, following a surge in fatalities during the pandemic, with a 17% drop from the peak in August 2023. Experts attribute this decline to a combination of factors, including expanded addiction treatment, public awareness…
An article from the Marin Independent Journal features Kate Kennedy Scott, program coordinator for OD Free Marin, and Ken Olshansky with the Marin Medical Reserve Corps, at the Episcopal Community Services’ Inaugural Health Fair on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024.024. “Vendors at the fair included the Ritter Center’s Mobile Clinic, Downtown Streets Team, United Way Bay…
From The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is informing public health officials, clinicians, and affected patients, their families, and caregivers about a potential public health risk among individuals ordering what they believe to be prescription medications from online pharmacies. On September 30, 2024, the U.S….
An article in the Oct 3, 2024 edition of the Marin Independent Journal about a Mill Valley mom, Jessica Schiller, who biked to the Farallon Islands to honor her daughter Naomi, who died from fentanyl poisoning in 2022. “We’re always looking for new ways to raise awareness about fentanyl, and Jessica certainly found one,” said…
By Richard Halstead | Marin Independent Journal Marin County is redoubling its efforts to get naloxone into the hands of people who need it to prevent drug overdoses. Over the summer, the county added three new vending machines that supply naloxone kits free of charge, increasing the number of machines in the county to eight….