Memorial Flag Events Spotlight the Opioid Epidemic
Monterey County, CA, April 7, 2023 - Community Human Services (CHS), Montage Health’s Prescribe Safe Initiative, IHeart Radio, and Salinas Valley Health are spreading the word about the opioid crisis in our community and inviting the community to attend the first of five upcoming Memorial Flag Events held in conjunction with the 2023 Virtual 5K/3K Recovery Run.
On Saturday, April 22, over 1,800 flags will be on display from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. on the Colton Hall lawn in Monterey to honor those whose lives have been affected by opioid addiction. Come by and hear from Mayor Tyller Williamson, individuals whose lives have been affected by opioids, and others about how the opioid crisis is impacting the area and what we as a caring community, can do to address it. Narcan, the opioid overdose reversal medication, will also be distributed free of charge. Future Memorial Flag Events will be held in Salinas, Seaside, Soledad, and on the Hartnell College Salinas Campus.
In 2018, Monterey County had the second-lowest opioid-related death rate of any county in California. Since then, counterfeit medications have entered the market, many with toxic or lethal doses of fentanyl, causing a staggering increase in opioid-related overdoses and deaths. Fatal overdoses from opioids have increased eightfold since 2018, prompting the medical community, community-based organizations, and families to step up their efforts in battling the opioid crisis and ask the community for help. There were 65 opioid-related deaths in both 2020 and 2021 in Monterey County.
Over the past couple of years, many deaths have been linked to counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, made to look like prescription medications. Fentanyl is a very powerful opioid, 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine.
CHS, IHeart Radio, Montage Health’s Prescribe Safe Initiative, and Salinas Valley Health have partnered this year on the 2023 Virtual Recovery Run. Registration is open, and runners may register at www.runsignup.com/Race/CA/Monterey/RecoveryRunWalk
“Opioid addiction can be extremely difficult to overcome. But medication-assisted treatment can help. Recovery happens. Miracles happen. Medication-assisted treatment works,” said Robin McCrae, Chief Executive Officer of Community Human Services. CHS operates four drug treatment programs that address opioid dependence – Genesis House, Off Main Clinic and two Outpatient Drug Treatment Centers – all of which offer medication-assisted treatment.
Funds raised by this year’s Recovery Run will help support CHS’ mission to provide high-quality mental health, substance abuse, and homeless services to help people reach their full potential. CHS is a nonprofit Joint Powers agency that has served Monterey County residents since 1969. Information at www.chservices.org.