City Honors Lives Lost to Overdose and Expands Efforts in Harm Reduction
The City of West Hollywood will observe Overdose Awareness Day on Thursday, August 31, 2024, joining communities worldwide in remembering those lost to drug overdoses and raising awareness about prevention efforts. As part of the commemoration, West Hollywood City Hall and the lanterns along Santa Monica Boulevard will be illuminated in purple, the official color for Overdose Awareness Day. The City will also share related messages on its social media platforms.
Overdose Awareness Day, which began in 2001, has grown into the largest global campaign to combat overdoses and promote discussions on evidence-based treatment and harm reduction. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States recorded nearly 110,000 overdose deaths in 2022, surpassing the previous year’s record of 109,179. The rise in fatal overdoses has been significantly driven by fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a Public Safety Alert in 2022 about the widespread trafficking of fentanyl-laced counterfeit prescription pills. The DEA reported that 60% of these pills contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl.
In Los Angeles County, accidental fentanyl overdose deaths surged by 1,280%, from 109 deaths in 2016 to 1,910 in 2022. Fentanyl, which can be 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, is often found in counterfeit pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs like methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and ecstasy. This makes it especially dangerous, as users are frequently unaware of its presence. The growing prevalence of fentanyl overdoses poses a significant public health crisis across all demographics.
West Hollywood has been proactive in addressing the dangers of fentanyl. Since 2019, the City has collaborated with various agencies to distribute fentanyl test strips to the community. In 2023 and 2024, free fentanyl test strips and Naloxone (commonly known by the brand name Narcan) were made available at the WeHo Pride Street Fair. These tools are critical in preventing fentanyl-related overdose deaths. Fentanyl test strips help detect the presence of fentanyl in substances, while Naloxone can quickly reverse opioid overdoses by restoring normal breathing in individuals who have overdosed.
In July 2024, the Harm Reduction Center, operated by the nonprofit Being Alive, opened in West Hollywood at 7976 Santa Monica Boulevard. The center provides syringe exchange services, free Narcan, harm reduction supplies, and support services. It operates from Tuesday to Saturday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The City also partners with the Drug Awareness Foundation to raise awareness and combat stigma surrounding substance abuse. The foundation, established in 2018, focuses on creating dialogue and providing support to families who have lost loved ones to drug overdoses. More information is available at drugawarenessfoundation.com.
West Hollywood continues to renovate the historic Log Cabin building on N. Robertson Boulevard, which houses the West Hollywood Recovery Center (WHRC). On August 5, 2024, Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath announced a $3 million commitment from the American Rescue Plan funds to support the ongoing renovation. The project, expected to be completed in 2026, aims to enhance the services provided by WHRC. Updates on the renovation can be found at go.weho.org/logcabin.
