RxSafe Marin is now OD Free Marin

To reflect our evolving mission, RxSafe Marin is now OD Free Marin.

Why Change RxSafe Marin’s Name to OD Free Marin?

Prescription drugs (Rx), once the leading cause of overdose, now make up less than 10 percent of overdoses. Thanks in large part to work done in the past by RxSafe Marin and its partners, opioid prescriptions have steadily decreased in Marin County over the last ten years.

Graph of Opioid Prescriptions, as Measured by Morphine Milligram Equivalents (MME), Marin County 2011-2019
Opioid Prescriptions, as Measured by Morphine Milligram Equivalents (MME), Marin County 2011-2019
Drug Overdose Deaths by Year, Marin County Residents
Drug Overdose Deaths by Year, Marin County Residents

With the rising prevalence of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids in the drug supply, overdose has become the leading cause of accidental death in Marin, accounting for ten times more deaths than COVID in residents under age 60 in 2021.

Overdose rates are increasing throughout the nation, as well as here in Marin. Marin saw a leap from 42 overdose deaths in 2020 to 62 in 2021, mainly attributed to fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.

Therefore, the term “RxSafe” no longer represents the biggest threat to public safety that we address: overdoses from synthetic opioids like fentanyl. The County will continue to support OD Free Marin to engage the community to tackle these evolving threats to community health alongside our community partners.

Please note: the website RxSafeMarin.org is no longer affiliated with this coalition.