Montage Health's Prescribe Safe program partners with Monterey County Office of Education to combat fentanyl crisis in schools
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Monica Sciuto, Montage Health, monica.sciuto@montagehealth.org, (831) 622-2756
Teri Pimentel, Monterey County Office of Education, tpimentel@montereycoe.org, (831) 784-4245
Monterey, CA — Montage Health’s Prescribe Safe program is proud to announce a collaboration with the Monterey County Office of Education (MCOE) aimed at raising awareness and preventing fentanyl-related overdoses among youth in Monterey County. The partnership, formalized this summer, will focus on providing critical education, resources, and support to schools, educators, families, and students as the community faces an escalating crisis due to the spread of counterfeit medications laced with fentanyl.
Launched in 2014, the Prescribe Safe program has collaborated with over 65 local businesses and agencies to tackle the opioid crisis in Monterey County. By 2018, the county had the second-lowest opioid-related death rate in California. But the recent rise in counterfeit medications containing fentanyl has led to a dangerous increase in overdose rates, making this collaboration with MCOE both timely and essential.
Under the MCOE partnership, Montage Health’s Prescribe Safe program experts will work closely with MCOE to develop and distribute resource materials to help educators and families understand the dangers of fentanyl. Additionally, they will provide expertise on best practices for fentanyl awareness and offer guidance at workgroup meetings. Prescribe Safe will also provide ongoing education and training on fentanyl and naloxone at MCOE events, including meetings of the Safe and Healthy Schools and Communities Coalition.
"At Montage Health, we recognize that the fentanyl crisis requires a comprehensive, community-wide response," says Dr. Steven Packer, President/CEO of Montage Health. "This partnership with the Monterey County Office of Education will allow us to extend our reach into schools, ensuring that educators, students, and families are equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to prevent overdoses and save lives."
As part of its role, MCOE actively collaborates with health and safety professionals to connect school districts with critical resources, specialized trainings, and outreach events focused on fentanyl awareness, and provides free Narcan to Monterey County schools. They will also assist in developing age-appropriate educational materials and advocate for policy changes at the local and state levels to support prevention and treatment efforts.
"We are committed to protecting our students and school communities from the devastating effects of fentanyl," says Dr. Deneen Guss, Monterey County Superintendent of Schools. "By working alongside Montage Health's Prescribe Safe program, we can raise awareness, educate our youth, and make lasting impacts to safeguard their health and well-being."
Montage Health’s Prescribe Safe program's contribution to the well-being of Monterey County youth has already been recognized through MCOE’s first ever Safe and Healthy Schools and Communities Leadership Award and through a resolution adopted by the Monterey County Board of Education during the October 16 board meeting for their continued work supporting Monterey County schools with free education and initiatives to prevent drug misuse among their teens.
Together, Montage Health’s Prescribe Safe program and MCOE will continually assess the effectiveness of their collaborative efforts and adjust strategies as necessary to ensure positive outcomes. This partnership exemplifies the shared commitment to addressing the fentanyl crisis and fostering healthier, safer school environments across Monterey County.
Key support as part of the partnership:
- Development of educational tools and resources for educators and families on fentanyl awareness
- Guidance on best practices for fentanyl education, overdose prevention, and policy advocacy
- Training for school staff and community members on fentanyl risks and the use of naloxone
- Tracking of fentanyl use and overdose trends among youth in the county
- School outreach and peer education programs to engage students in prevention efforts
Programs already underway, include:
- 632 boxes of naloxone distributed
- 700 students in 8 schools (four districts) participated in Prescribe Safe’s curriculum
- 29 student assemblies and events reaching 3,770+ students
- Five presentations regarding overdose awareness for MCOE
- Created a dedicated Tools for Schools web page
- Launched co-branded Naloxone Toolkit for Schools (11 schools)
- Distributed co-branded fentanyl awareness posters at school sites
- Updated MCOE fentanyl resource webpage
- Video created in partnership with MCOE: (English) Fentanyl PSA (Spanish) Fentanyl PSA
- Naloxone training video created for community and students: (English) Naloxone Training Video Animated 2024 (Spanish) Naloxone Training Video Animated
Montage Health’s Prescribe Safe program is fully funded thanks to grant support from Montage Health Foundation. For more information about Montage Health’s Prescribe Safe program, please visit montagehealth.org/prescribesafe.
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About Montage Health
Montage Health is a nonprofit healthcare organization with deep roots in Monterey County dating back more than 90 years. Independent and locally owned, Montage Health was created by Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula to deliver exceptional care beyond the hospital. Montage Health now also includes MoGo Urgent Care, Montage Wellness Center, Montage Health Foundation, Montage Medical Group for primary and specialty care, Aspire Health, and Ohana, Montage Health's family-focused mental health program for youth. Montage Health is continually investing in healthcare innovations to make the highest standard of care accessible to everyone in Monterey County. Learn more at montagehealth.org.
About Monterey County Office of Education
The Monterey County Office of Education provides the leadership, support, and service excellence needed to prepare the diverse students of Monterey County for success in each step of their educational journey. MCOE provides vital resources to support the county’s 24 school districts and charter schools, and is a vital component of the K-12 education system, serving as a critical link between county schools and both state and federal governments. For more about MCOE go to www.montereycoe.org.
