Health Officials Urge Caution as Sonoma County Sees Surge in Suspected Overdose Deaths

Sonoma County health officials are concerned that drug-related fatalities may be on the rise after a dozen people died of suspected overdoses this month.

Service providers in the county who offer drug addiction treatment are being urged to spread the word and warn clients of possible dangers in the local drug supply, according to an email sent to organizations by the Department of Health Services.

“We’re getting overdose deaths that we’d typically see in a month in two weeks,” said Will Gayowski, a section manager for Sonoma County’s substance use and community recovery division. “If we’re doing outreach and there’s something potentially dangerous out in the community, we need to get the word out and have our providers be aware.”

The 12 overdose victims were men ranging in age from 19 to 59 years old, the county announced. No other information has been released to the public, and there is not enough data to determine whether the uptick in deaths is temporary or the start of a trend, according to Gayowski.

It’s possible that the numbers will go down to normal levels in the near future, he said.

After fatal overdoses spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sonoma County began experiencing a gradual decline, Gayowski said. In 2020 and 2021, the county recorded overdose deaths in the low 140s and 160s. In 2022 and 2023, those numbers dropped to 123 and 135, though they still exceed pre-pandemic levels.

Jenny Mercado, an epidemiologist with the county’s Department of Health Services, said the number of overdose deaths this year has been about average. While no one can say for certain whether that will be the case over the next few months, there’s no reason to think otherwise, she said.

“Just be aware of what you are doing,” Mercado said. “The numbers suggest that drugs right now are really lethal. Make sure you know what you’re getting into.”

Epidemiologists are still trying to determine what caused the recent spike. Some experts speculate it could be a result of multiple factors, including increased drug potency and fentanyl contamination.

Keanan Joyner, an assistant professor of psychology at UC Berkeley, said a large number of overdoses are also caused by mixing opioids with alcohol and other drugs. He urged public health officials to think about preventative measures, including more support systems for people who do consume substances.

“It’s not necessarily supporting drug use. It is not saying that it’s a good thing to do, but it is saying we don’t want people to overdose,” Joyner said. “We need more robust testing of drug supplies and a lot more funding dedicated towards supporting health and safety.”

According to Gayowski, there are several things that people can do to stay safe. For those who are struggling with addiction, following harm reduction strategies such as using test strips or having a sober buddy can be instrumental for staying safe, he added.

In Sonoma County, residents have access to free vending machines stocked with critical health supplies such as Narcan and fentanyl test strips. They are located at the Russian River Health and Wellness Center, Santa Rosa Junior College and Sonoma County Public Health Offices.

Timing is also everything, Gayowski said.

“If there’s an event where someone did overdose … call emergency responders right away,” he said. “Get someone out there. It’s precious seconds.”