WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) – The Yolo County Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No. 25-95 on Aug. 26, declaring Aug. 31 as International Overdose Awareness Day.

According to provisional data from the Center for Disease Control, 114,000 fewer overdoses took place between October 2023 and September 2024, totaling 87,000 overdoses, which was the fewest recorded figure during a 12-month period since June 2020.

Twenty-six individuals succumbed to opiate overdoses during the same reporting period, compared to 30 individuals the previous year.

A leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 44 is overdose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Yolo County officials and agencies “collectively support the concept of harm reduction and treatment where appropriate, rather than incarceration for those suffering from Substance Use Disorders (SUD),” according to a document from the board of supervisors.

To strengthen connectivity and relationships between service providers and community members, an organization known as the Yolo Conty Opioid Coalition was formed and is comprised of multiple departments, including corrections, behavioral health, health and human services and non-county health partners. The coalition exists to support communities impacted by opioid use and addiction.

The coalition sponsored and staffed a booth at the Yolo County Fair, offering education, resources and giveaways for those affected by substance use disorders. Since the international day’s inception in 2001, more than 1,000 events have been held internationally in support of bringing an end to overdose, according to the Yolo County Board of Supervisors.