Local agencies speak on President Trumps declaration

The opioid crisis is also a major concern up and down the coast.

“A lot of people in Santa Barbara that are dealing with prescription pain medications in a manner that is causing addiction and we are seeing it with more and more frequently, said Ed Stonefelt, the CEO of Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse in Santa Barbara . “People are turning to stronger substances for pain management practices.”

The order declared by President Trump on Thursday – under the Public Heath Services Act – will direct Federal agencies to give out more grant money so local groups can fight the epidemic. Something sorely needed, according to Alice Gleghorn at Santa Barbara County Behavioral and Wellness.

“What is really need to address the opioid crisis is greater access to treatment including medicated assistant treatment as well as access to overdose prevention medication so you can actually prevent people from dying,” said Glegdorn.

The department has been very active and successful in distributing overdose prevention kits to Santa Barbara community members.
“We’ve distributed over 450 kits and recorded over 150 overdoses reverse,” said Gleghorn.
Gleghorn says the opioid crisis is impacting members of the population that weren’t affected previously.

“It has really reached a very critical point,” said Gleghorn.

“It’s very much a step in the right direction if the funding comes through on a federal level the way that it is currently being discussed,” said Stonefelt.