The City of Long Beach is taking a hands-on approach to addressing the opioid crisis by offering free educational workshops aimed at raising awareness and teaching overdose prevention. According to a recent announcement, the Health Department’s Harm Reduction Program will kick off a series of community training sessions, which will be available to the public at no charge.
Set to begin this month, the workshops will cover a variety of topics, including an overview of the opioid crisis specifically in the Long Beach area, an introduction to harm reduction principles, instructions on how to administer Narcan, and the use of fentanyl test strips. The city seems committed to not only equipping residents with knowledge but also with practical tools such as free Narcan and fentanyl test strips.
Taking place at the Main Health Facility, the workshops will be conducted from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on selected Saturdays, with dates announced for August 16, September 13, and October 11. Despite online registration being available for those interested, it's not a prerequisite for attendance. This approach could be a boon for outreach, as it ensures that anyone can participate, including those who might decide to attend on the spur of the moment or who may have barriers to online access.
The initiative is rooted in harm reduction, an approach focusing on decreasing the negative impacts of drug use through education and resources. These efforts are supported by the California Opioid Settlements fund, which aims to provide financial backing to cities and counties grappling with the opioid crisis. More details on this funding can be found on the state's Attorney General’s site dedicated to opioid settlements at oag.ca.gov/opioids.
Earlier this year, Long Beach made moves to tackle the opioid situation with the release of its first opioid overdose report and the launch of a Youth Opioid Awareness Campaign. These actions demonstrate the city's layered strategy to address a complex problem, and more information about the Health Department's initiatives, including upcoming workshops, can be accessed at longbeach.gov/harmreduction. Should you have any queries regarding this effort, the Health Department's Public Affairs Office can be reached at [email protected].
