Recovery Month is observed every September to celebrate the gains made by those in recovery from substance use disorder. The month also promotes and supports new treatment and recovery practices, the nation's strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and communities who make recovery in all its forms possible.

Recovery Month resources.

The dashboard, developed by County Public Health, shows multi-year information on overdose deaths, emergency department visits and hospitalizations and calls to emergency response teams and poison control related to opioids. It also has data on how often naloxone (a life-saving medicine to treat an opioid overdose) was given to patients and demographic details.

Click here for dashboard

Yesterday CCR, DEA and several community groups hosted the International Overdose Awareness Day flag event in San Diego. Overdose deaths in San Diego County dropped 21 percent in 2024, marking the second year in a row of declining numbers. The fall in the number of fatalities is hopeful news, but overdose deaths remain high, more than double the number in 2015. 

For County news click here.

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This year on August 21, San Diego will place flags on the County building lawn to represent the lives lost to overdose. The good news, we have fewer overdoses in the County as well as Nationally. There will be a resources fair with several local community groups with tables. A media event will take place at 9am. The actual day for International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is August 31. For more information or to host a table, go to contactus.

For event flyer click here.

For MAT, Narcan and Bridge programs click here.

I wanted to let you know that I have accepted an incredible opportunity to rejoin the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), where I will lead public health efforts in shaping national drug policy. This is a true full-circle moment, and I carry with me all that we’ve built together in San Diego.  It has been an honor to be part of the prevention community for many years.

I am deeply proud of the incredible collaboration among San Diego’s leaders, providers, and community members, who consistently partner across sectors to make our region a safer, healthier, and more connected community.

Together, we’ve made meaningful strides—including teaching the public about drug interactions with THC and CBD, educating young people, and promoting measures to safeguard public health. Your work is very important and please know that I will continue to share San Diego’s successes on the national stage—and I look forward to staying connected and continuing our collaboration in this next chapter.

With sincere gratitude,

Roneet

Roneet Lev, MD

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