Over 110,000 people died from drug overdose in the U.S. last year. Close to 90% of opioid-related deaths in California were caused by fentanyl, 37 of which happened in Monterey County.
Community health workers are in high demand in Santa Cruz County. According to a recent report from the Health Improvement Partnership of Santa Cruz County, only 8% of community health worker positions in the county are filled annually, at an estimated median wage of $21 per hour.
Leslie Conner, who has served as the nonprofit's CEO since 2011 and holds a 25-year career of service in the local health care sector, will retire at the end of 2023. The search for a new CEO is already underway, according to a release from Santa Cruz Community Health.
With a rise in fentanyl abuse, addiction and overdoses, the Santa Cruz Surgery Center is taking action in order to help prevent deaths from these addicting drugs.
Santa Cruz Surgery Center distributes naloxone, seeks to combat opioid deaths santacruzsentinel.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from santacruzsentinel.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.