Annual Report FY 2022-2023

Drug education, prevention and enforcement efforts in Orange County continue to evolve as new challenges and trends emerge. We stay ahead of the changing landscape through proactive enforcement and expanding education efforts to reach our community.

Clockwise order: Hon. Maria Hernandez, Assistant Presiding Judge of the Orange County Superior Court, Dr. Elizabeth Cauffman from the UCI Center for Psychology and Law, Sergeant Brian Gunsolley and Sheriff Don Barnes speak at the Fentanyl Forum

Expanding our reach in prevention Above the Influence is a deputy-run program that helps students understand the impacts of substance experimentation and the risk of a one-time decision evolving into substance use disorder. In the 2022-2023 school year: 37 schools 3,000 students graduated the program Fentanyl Awareness assemblies reached 21,000 students and 1,200 parents participated

DRUG ENFORCEMENT AND PREVENTION Inaugural fentanyl forum educates, empowers

T he Orange County Sheriff’s Department hosted the first county wide effort to rally the community in the fight against fentanyl. The Fighting Fentanyl Together forum at the Orange County Sheriff’s Regional Training Academy drew more than 500 people to hear from law enforcement, clinicians and educators. Topics included statistics and trends, the biology of addiction and prevention strategies. Bolstering education with resources and remaining collaborative will help Orange County effectively address the fentanyl epidemic. “There is a point in life that we can pivot and implement positive change, and it can start here at ground zero in our own community,” Sheriff Barnes said. “We can give our children the opportunity to live a long and healthy life.”

View the Fentanyl Forum video by scanning the QR code

orange county sheriff’s department

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