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San Mateo County Overdose Prevention Coalition Newsletter
May 2025
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Kicking Off A Countywide Response |
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To create a more coordinated and cohesive response to overdose prevention in San Mateo County, efforts are underway to build a community-led coalition grounded in the needs and experiences of those most impacted. This work began with a series of focus groups hosted by San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) to understand community concerns and priorities. Insights from those conversations helped lay the foundation for what comes next.
A newly formed steering committee—composed of community members, service providers, and individuals with lived experience—is now working to translate that feedback into structure. Over the coming months, the steering committee will develop a shared vision, draft a co-governance model, and identify strategic priorities based on what was surfaced during the focus groups.
As this work continues, the broader coalition is still in formation. Community participation will be essential to bringing the strategy to life. Once established, the coalition will help drive implementation—serving through work groups and other collaborative efforts to carry out the priorities set by the steering committee and advance change across the county.
 First meeting of the Steering Committee, April 8 at College of San Mateo.
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What We've Heard From the Community |
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To guide the formation of the coalition, BHRS held six focus groups last fall with 93 participants across the county—including parents, youth advocates, educators, mental health professionals, and people with lived experience. These conversations surfaced shared challenges, community priorities, and powerful insights that are helping shape the steering committee's vision. The input gathered is already informing the work of the steering committee and the next phase of planning.
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Much of the work featured in this issue—from the community focus groups to naloxone training and distribution—has been led by Dr. Ronni Brown, Senior Community Health Planner with San Mateo County BHRS. With a background in dentistry and public health, Dr. Brown brings decades of experience working at the intersection of substance use, health equity, and community engagement. Nationally recognized for her research on the oral effects of substance use, Dr. Brown is helping shape the Overdose Prevention Coalition with a strong focus on community voice, collaboration, and long-term impact.
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Through strong partnerships and a shared commitment to saving lives, we’re already making meaningful progress across San Mateo County. Here are a few recent highlights:
Overdose Crisis & Response Workshop: Since June 2024, we’ve delivered our free Overdose Crisis and Response Workshop to 23 partner agencies, training over 455 individuals. This free workshop covers opioid misuse, overdose signs, naloxone use, legal protections, and local resources. Interested in training your organization? Contact Dr. Ronni Brown at rbrown2@smcgov.org.
Wider Access to Naloxone: Since June 2024, 1,620 boxes of naloxone have been distributed across San Mateo County, and 455 individuals have been trained. We have distributed naloxone at community events, including Pride Festival, Juneteenth, Disaster Preparedness Day, Colma Nite Out, and Sana Sana. To further expand access, Correctional Health has installed a free naloxone vending machine in the public lobby of the Maguire Correctional Facility (300 Bradford Street, Redwood City). BHRS will be installing eight additional machines across the county to offer free naloxone and fentanyl test strips to the public.
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 The fight against overdose is a community effort—and everyone has a role to play. Here's how you can get involved:
Carry Naloxone Even if you don’t use opioids, carrying naloxone can be lifesaving. Here’s where to get it:
- At your local pharmacy or major retailers—no prescription needed
- By mail for $24 from calrxnaloxone.com
- Free from the vending machine at 300 Bradford St, Redwood City
Join the Coalition Want to get more involved? We’d love to hear from you:
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College of San Mateo
The Harm Reduction Society is an ongoing peer support group that provides free naloxone, fentanyl test strips, safer use education, and community building. Meetings are held at the College of San Mateo every Wednesday from 2-4 pm in Building 5, Room 339. For more information, check out their Instagram @harmreductionsociety.
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