What is Drug Safe Solano?

What is Drug Safe Solano?

Drug Safe Solano (DSS) was created in 2018 when community partners came together to address the serious issue of opioid use in Solano County. In August 2019, DSS moved from the Solano County Coalition for Better Health to Touro University California (TUC). The transition of DSS to TUC is in alignment with the college’s mission to train primary care providers that serve communities in need. 

DSS brings together a diverse cross-section of agencies, community-based organizations, and concerned residents to collaborate and collectively create strategies to specifically address opioid use and abuse disorders. The program is now comprised of over 40 organizations from a cross-section of local hospitals, community health centers, law enforcement, courts, county agencies, community-based organizations, first responders, and concerned residents who come together to collaborate, prevent and combat the opioid crisis in our neighborhoods. 

The mission of Drug Safe Solano is to (1) decrease the stigma of addiction, serve as a resource for patients and professionals, and increase public education of the opioid crisis and the use of Naloxone, (2) saving lives by preventing opioid overdoses and deaths through reducing the number of opioid prescriptions and safe disposal of prescription opioids, and (3) expanding access to Medication Assisted Treatment and other forms of treatment, both in inpatient and outpatient settings. 

Why is DSS important for Solano County? 

Drug Safe Solano and opioid coalitions in other counties serve a vital role in the community in providing awareness about the dangers of opioid misuse and the risk of overdose or developing opioid use disorders. This is done through regular outreach at community events and media campaigns. 

The program also founded the first officially approved harm reduction program in Solano County that provides lifesaving naloxone, safer use supplies including fentanyl and xylazine test strips and basic needs kits for those struggling with homelessness. DSS partners with numerous other community organizations as well to provide them with harm reduction supplies, increasing access countywide.   

Drug Safe Solano is at the forefront of regional community collaboration through its hosting of an annual symposium event to bring together stakeholders from multiple Bay Area counties to discuss barriers, strategies and future partnerships to address the opioid epidemic from multiple angles.  

Finally, a big benefit provided to the community is helping educate youth. DSS has hosted multiple events screening a documentary called Fentanyl High, that was put together by youth for youth to facilitate discussion about opioid use. Regularly, DSS is in the classrooms of Solano County high schools, providing health education and empowering youth to be leaders in this area of public health amongst their peers.

What services does DSS provide?

1. Harm reduction services twice a week at the Norman King Community Center (Thursdays is in conjunction with the Student-Run Free Clinic). 
2. Harm reduction services outreach with Street Medicine (a program for students to learn how to treat the most vulnerable of populations), services once a month at local encampments for the unhoused. 
3. Regular community naloxone trainings. 
4. Tabling and outreach at community events like farmer's markets, Dignity Day and health fairs. 
5. Annual regional symposium event. 
6. Education in the classrooms at local Solano County high schools. 
7. Screenings of educational documentary with facilitated discussion for youth in Solano County. 
8. Trainings in the community for probation officers and law enforcement to reduce stigma and increase awareness about substance use disorder treatment. 
9. Referrals to treatment services in the community. 
10. Monthly coalition meetings that bring together stakeholders in the community and anyone interested in getting involved to help address the opioid crisis. 

What is something you want people to know about this program? 

The opioid crisis isn't over.  

This has been going on for so long that there is fear that it has lost some sense of urgency around the problem. New opioids and other substances continue to plague the community, and we can't lose our sense of motivation to tackle the problem from all sides. 

We encourage anyone who is interested to join our coalition meetings to learn more about the current state and how to get involved with Drug Safe Solano. 

2026 Drug Safe Solano Symposium  

Friday, February 13 

7:30am-3pm 

Farragut Inn | 1310 Club Drive, Vallejo, CA