LUCERNE— Gathering to commemorate International Overdose Awareness Day, Lake County Community members assembled at the 13th Avenue County Behavioral Health Building last week to celebrate not only survivors, but beloved county residents lost to overdose in prior decades. The nonprofit Any Positive Change Lake County organized the confab that focuses on improving the drug user’s health.
Yet overdose fatalities continue to mount and the gap in equity is not closing, explained Annina Van Voorene, Van Voorene is the Any Positive Change founder. She has pointed out there is a surge of antipathy manifested through “anti-body autonomy” legislation that has proliferated recently in several states throughout the U.S. and as a result, law enforcement has increased criminalization, harassment, and simultaneously, recent history revealed an undercurrent of violence has emerged among those in the contraband community, as well as a rise of “not in my backyard” attitude across California, Van Voorene maintained.
However, Any Positive Change is committed to continue to provide drug using clients the acumen to cultivate skills that can implement to progressively overcome drug dependence through syringe service programs to ensure this community can function safely without facing unnecessary risk of being exposed to nonsterile syringes. Van Voorene elaborated about the issue in a newsletter distributed to the media just prior to the annual Awareness Day tribute. “It costs less than a dime, for a new needle and California Law says you can buy a syringe without a prescription, but the devil is in the details,” Van Voorene said. “It is at the pharmacist’s discretion but still some pharmacists can retain a negative predisposition toward certain people.”
If one radiates a certain appearance (for example) such as a person experiencing being houseless, people who use drugs,
people who engage in sex work, and those previously who have been incarcerated, then probability is more likely of that particular person being denied access to a new syringe.”
But Van Voorene observed that Any Positive Change takes the view that people who use drugs are just as important as other people. “Drug use is about what I do, it is not what I am,” said Van Voorene, quoting an aphorism of Ben Ray, a cherished associate who previously contributed cogent insight at the organization’s founding.
What is more, she noted that Any Positive Change, since 2017 has documented 373 overdose reversals (avoided deaths) because of the group’s ability to access Naloxone nasal spray, which reverses the overdose of powerful substances, which manage to penetrate the brain/blood barrier, which is also known by the brand name, Narcan “It costs $75 to $100 for a Naloxone dosage,” she said. “Who can pay for that? … That’s why we want to give it away free on the street.”
The Any Positive Change nonprofit, can furnish drug dependent clients with syringe services programs through a variety of referrals. Syringe services programs (SSPs) are community-based prevention programs that can provide a range of services, including linkage to substance use disorder treatment; access to and disposal of sterile syringes and injection equipment; as well as vaccination, testing, and linkage to care and treatment for infectious diseases.
Syring Service programs have been fostered by a number of organizations including Tribal Health, Adventist Hospital and Redwood Community Services. “People who provide Naloxone are the true first responders, she said. “I’m a harm reduction OG.” Van Voorene also pointed out efforts exerted by Any Positive Change is a never-ending struggle.
Furthermore, they have lost a significant number of people. Media reports have cited 79 overdose fatalities in 2022. Anytime an overdose-related death occurs, it is a tragedy for not only the individual and their family, but a loss to the entire community. Harm reduction programs, including those that provide responsive services and tools, such as Narcan education and distribution and syringe exchange opportunities, are a part of how we combat the worst outcomes of opioid and other substance abuse challenges.
Elsie Jones, director of Lake County Behavioral Health Services, noted her organization offers multiple interventions. “Lake County Behavioral Health provides many services to combat substance use disorders in our communities,” she said in an email.
“Prevention services that include outreach and education to the community, including schools. Assessment of substance use and mental health issues and provision of health care to treat these issues (including) referrals to community services and supports.”
She added that Behavioral Health is also aware that common mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, can precede misuse of substances. And she pointed out, early identification and treatment can help those impacted, to manage in a healthier, more productive manner.
“Help is available,” she said. “And we encourage those struggling with mental and behavioral health concerns to call 707-994-7090 to explore options for support.”
Lake County Behavioral Health Services can be found at 6302 13th Avenue in Lucerne, next to Nice in Lake County.
Outreach was made to the county health department and relayed to them yet a text message reply arrived noting that the
department was unaware of the activities of, Any Positive Change, so unable to comment.
However, contract disputes involving the provider have been a heated topic of discussion at recent meetings of the Board of Supervisors.
Van Voorene noted in her newsletter media blast that people who use drugs are often perceived by many in the community as noncontributing members of society. Yet Any Positive Change rejects that perception.
“We aim to change that tired, stigmatizing narrative and shine a light on how most of the time it is the individual being looked at in this way, who are the ones who take care of one another and are truly healing the community,” she said.
Recent grant funding through the state has allowed the Any Positive Change nonprofit to provide critical items for those using drugs in Lake County, and who are experiencing houselessness with sleeping bags, seasonal clothing, toiletries and ready to eat prepared meals to survive until they can obtain wrap around social services from county and state agencies to progress to self-sufficiency.
The funding also helped to reverse 40,000 overdoses during the prior three years, keeping people alive with a 95 percent success rate through life-saving Naloxone.
“We’ve had people who even though they didn’t die from an overdose but had their bodies wracked by a lack of palliative care,” said Van Voorene.
“This event is public health on the street. We’re here because of International Overdose Awareness Day,” she said. “And we want to celebrate the lives we saved and the ones we lost. Heroes carry Naloxone.”
