MONTEREY COUNTY — Montage Health’s Prescribe Safe program has announced a collaboration with the Monterey County Office of Education (MCOE) aimed at raising awareness and preventing fentanyl-related overdoses among youth in Monterey County.
The partnership, formalized this summer, will focus on providing critical education, resources and support to schools, educators, families and students as the community faces an escalating crisis due to the spread of counterfeit medications laced with fentanyl.
Launched in 2014, the Prescribe Safe program has collaborated with over 65 local businesses and agencies to tackle the opioid crisis in Monterey County. By 2018, the county had the second-lowest opioid-related death rate in California. But the recent rise in counterfeit medications containing fentanyl has led to a dangerous increase in overdose rates, making this collaboration with MCOE both timely and essential.
Under the MCOE partnership, Prescribe Safe program experts will work closely with MCOE to develop and distribute resource materials to help educators and families understand the dangers of fentanyl.
In addition, they will provide expertise on best practices for fentanyl awareness and offer guidance at workgroup meetings.
Prescribe Safe will also provide ongoing education and training on fentanyl and naloxone at MCOE events, including meetings of the Safe and Healthy Schools and Communities Coalition.
“At Montage Health, we recognize that the fentanyl crisis requires a comprehensive, community-wide response,” said Dr. Steven Packer, president/CEO of Montage Health. “This partnership with the Monterey County Office of Education will allow us to extend our reach into schools, ensuring that educators, students and families are equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to prevent overdoses and save lives.”
As part of its role, MCOE actively collaborates with health and safety professionals to connect school districts with critical resources, specialized trainings, and outreach events focused on fentanyl awareness, and provides free Narcan to Monterey County schools. They will also assist in developing age-appropriate educational materials and advocate for policy changes at the local and state levels to support prevention and treatment efforts.
“We are committed to protecting our students and school communities from the devastating effects of fentanyl,” said Deneen Guss, Monterey County Superintendent of Schools. “By working alongside Montage Health’s Prescribe Safe program, we can raise awareness, educate our youth, and make lasting impacts to safeguard their health and well-being.”
Montage Health’s Prescribe Safe program’s contribution to the well-being of Monterey County youth has already been recognized through MCOE’s first ever Safe and Healthy Schools and Communities Leadership Award and through a resolution adopted by the Monterey County Board of Education during the Oct. 16 board meeting for their continued work supporting Monterey County schools with free education and initiatives to prevent drug misuse among their teens.
Programs already underway include:
- 632 boxes of naloxone distributed;
- 700 students in eight schools (four districts) participated in Prescribe Safe’s curriculum;
- 29 student assemblies and events reaching more than 3,770 students;
- Five presentations regarding overdose awareness for MCOE;
- Launched co-branded Naloxone Toolkit for Schools (11 schools); and
- Distributed co-branded fentanyl awareness posters at school sites.
Together, Montage Health’s Prescribe Safe program and MCOE will continually assess the effectiveness of their collaborative efforts and adjust strategies as necessary to ensure positive outcomes. This partnership exemplifies the shared commitment to addressing the fentanyl crisis and fostering healthier, safer school environments across Monterey County.
Montage Health’s Prescribe Safe program is fully funded thanks to grant support from Montage Health Foundation. For more information about, visit montagehealth.org/prescribesafe.
