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Santa Fe, NM- Santa Fe County Community Services announced today the launch of phase three of its public awareness campaign, in support of National Fentanyl Awareness Day on May 7, 2024. This initiative aims to mitigate public health harms associated with fentanyl consumption. The first phase of the campaign (“One Pill Can Kill.”) featured public education regarding the lethal effects of fentanyl.  Phases two and three now emphasize harm reduction through the message “Never Use Alone”. This message is prominently displayed across billboards, bus wraps, and print materials throughout the County. An important feature of phase three introduces a crucial resource providing direct access to Santa Fe County’s opioid and substance-specific treatment and support programs. National Fentanyl Awareness Day strives to bring together individuals, parents, community groups, and government entities to help put an end to this public health crisis.

Last year, over 70,000 Americans fatally overdosed on illegally made fentanyl which is now found in fake pills and many street drugs that people who use substances are often unaware contain the potent opioid. The County’s campaign is designed to reduce the number of New Mexicans overdosing on fentanyl and fentanyl analogs.  For FY2021 ending June 30, 2022, the overdose death rate in Santa Fe County was 48.4 per 100,000 residents, according to CDC and 75 County residents lost their lives. In 2023, October-December, 1,589 inmates at the Santa Fe County Detention Center tested positive for opiates, an average of 530 individuals per month. Within the same time period, staff at the Detention Center administered naloxone over forty times.

This harm reduction campaign is intended to reach people that use substances to support them in minimizing the public health effects of drug use. Examples of harm reduction strategies include safe needle exchange, public information, free access to naloxone (“Narcan”), and training on how to intervene and assist if you or someone in your family or community has overdosed. The “Never Use Alone” message seeks to reduce the number of people killed by fentanyl because they are using it alone without access to a community member or family member who is armed with naloxone. “Never Use Alone” is a message from a national movement that continues to support people who may be at risk for an overdose.

The development of all public awareness campaign materials is overseen and vetted by a group coordinated by the County, that includes stakeholders representing the Santa Fe County Community Services and Fire Department, the New Mexico Department of Health, community members, community agencies, and law enforcement. Santa Fe County does not encourage the use of illegal drugs.

For local treatment resources visit: Fentanyl-Treatment Resources at santafecountynm.gov)

To order your free doze of naloxone (“Narcan”) visit: NMDOH Harm Reduction | Naloxone Saves Lives (nmharmreduction.org)

For more information regarding the Santa Fe County “Never Use Alone” campaign, please contact Rachel O’Connor, Community Services Department Director at roconnor@santafecountynm.gov or Chanelle Delgado, Youth Services Administrative Program Manager at cdelgado@santafecountynm.gov. 

To join the national “Never Use Alone” movement, please visit: NeverUseAlone.com or call 1-800-484-3731.

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