Every month, Sonoma County loses an average of twelve people to accidental overdoses. It is the third-highest overdose death rate among Bay Area counties, driven by the spread of fentanyl in opioids and other drugs. 

Face to Face Sonoma County is proving that community-based prevention can turn those numbers around. 

According to data from the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) that was analyzed by the California Department of Public Health, Office of AIDS, in 2024 Face to Face distributed 44% of the naloxone obtained from DHCS’ Naloxone Distribution Program in Sonoma County yet accounted for 66% of the overdose reversals reported. 

This extraordinary return reflects the power of strategic access: Face to Face doesn’t just distribute naloxone; it ensures the medication reaches the people and places where overdoses are most likely to occur. 

“Our goal is zero overdose deaths, and we know how to get there,” said Kevin McAllister, Executive Director of Face to Face Sonoma County. “Naloxone saves lives when people have it and know how to use it. These numbers prove our approach works. Now we need to scale it.” 

“This data confirms the vital role Face to Face plays in getting naloxone out in the community to reduce opioid overdoses in Sonoma County,” said Karen Smith, Face to Face Board Vice President. “We are proud to collaborate with our partners to provide practical care to the community that honors dignity for all.” 

The organization’s approach centers on meeting people where they are. Face to Face provides naloxone (Narcan), fentanyl testing strips, and firsthand overdose prevention training through neighborhood outreach, partner sites, and direct community distribution. In 2023, the nonprofit purchased an EV Mobile Van that now operates twelve mobile routes to extend its reach into rural areas and communities that are harder to access. To further expand access, Face to Face installed wellness vending machines across the county provide 24/7 access to overdose prevention tools.

Lieutenant Christopher Mahurin of the Santa Rosa Police Department states that “Overdose prevention is a shared responsibility, and Face to Face plays a vital role in that work. Their naloxone distribution program saves lives every day in Sonoma County and provides a bridge to care for some of our most vulnerable community members. From a public safety standpoint, our partnership with Face to Face is essential as it reduces harm, preserves life, and strengthens the overall health and safety of our community.”  

Savannah Carlson from Acts of Kindness, an organization that supports the unsheltered and financially underprivileged in Sonoma County says, “Face to Face has been generous with supplying our volunteers with naloxone for years. Many people on the streets care deeply about caring for their community and want to be prepared when they encounter a situation where someone is overdosing but may have trouble getting around to get it. Having immediate access to naloxone saves lives. Face to Face not only does mobile work but also partners with organizations like ours that are outside every day to make sure that the people who need access have it. We are incredibly grateful to have Face to Face and their decades of work in our community.”