Long Beach Releases First-Ever Opioid Overdose Report Highlighting Five Years of Impact

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PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) has published its inaugural Opioid Overdose Report, a comprehensive analysis of opioid-related overdoses and deaths in the city from 2018 to 2022, the most recent years for which complete, validated data is available. The report provides a detailed overview of the opioid crisis in Long Beach, the critical role of synthetic opioids like fentanyl, and the City's ongoing efforts to combat this public health emergency through innovative and community-focused solutions.

"Long Beach is a leading city when it comes to public health, so we are treating the opioid epidemic with the utmost care and attention," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "This report not only highlights the significant challenges we face but also underscores our commitment to addressing both local and national emergencies with new and innovative approaches that protect our community's health and wellbeing."

The Opioid Overdose Report indicates that opioid-related deaths among Long Beach residents increased annually from 23 in 2018 to 98 in 2022, representing a 326% increase over this period, with a total of 332 opioid-related deaths between 2018 to 2022. Of these deaths, 263 involved fentanyl, with fentanyl-related deaths rising by 1,640% during this period. During this same period, Long Beach Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and the Long Beach Fire Department responded to 1,250 opioid-related calls, a 27% increase from 2020 to 2022. The crisis disproportionately impacts male residents, people ages 25-34, and those residing in the 90813 and 90805 zip codes, highlighting the need for focused harm reduction interventions.

The report also calls attention to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on social behaviors that may have influenced opioid misuse, including social isolation and reduced access to treatment and mental health services, which exacerbated the crisis. In addition, the report includes opioid-related deaths that occurred in Long Beach, regardless of where they live, from 2018-2022.

The Health Department is actively working to mitigate the effects of the opioid crisis through several harm reduction programs funded by the California Opioid Settlements Fund. These initiatives include:

• Harm Reduction Distribution Program: Providing free Narcan (naloxone), fentanyl and xylazine test strips, and other tools via online orders and direct outreach. Community members can request these free resources by completing the online request form.
• Naloxone Training: Educating community partners and organizations on how to reverse opioid overdoses.
• Harm Reduction Vending Machines: Plans are underway to install accessible vending machines throughout the city.
• Community Collaborations: Partnering with local organizations and healthcare providers to enhance care and provide resources and education to the community.

"Opioid-related deaths are preventable," said Dr. Anissa Davis, Long Beach Health Officer. "This report allows us to identify key areas of intervention and work collaboratively with our community partners to reduce harm and save lives."

The City also recently launched a youth opioid awareness campaign to provide young people an opportunity to develop skills through youth-led storytelling in multimedia workshops. The campaign encourages youth engagement, raises awareness about the opioid epidemic, and increases access to educational materials about opioid overdose prevention techniques.

The City of Long Beach urges residents to learn about and access harm reduction resources, including the Opioid Overdose Report, by visiting longbeach.gov/harmreduction. Community organizations interested in partnering with the Health Department may reach out to harmreduction@longbeach.gov.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagramand YouTube. More information about the Health Department is available at longbeach.gov/health and on social on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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