Orange County Grand Jury • 2022-2023 • Agency Response
Response to: Gimme Shelter and a Pound of Advice - The State of Animal Welfare Overseen by the County of Orange

Santa Ana Unified School District Jerry Almendarez Superintendent of Schools*

Published: June 14, 2023 6 pages
Ver PDF original

Findings and Recommendations 10 findings

F1
Illicit fentanyl is sold on the NA NA streets and through social media marketed as legitimate pharmaceuticals, or as other drugs laced with fentanyl, or sold as straight fentanyl, leading to exponentially increasing fentanyl addiction and deaths in Orange County.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
Recommendation By January 1, 2024, the Creating a multi-agency Task Force to address Orange County Board has not yet been the fentanyl crisis in Orange County is an of Supervisors should implemented but initiative-taking step that could help address the charter a multi-agency will be in the serious public health issue. Task Force to address future (see right the fentanyl crisis. for timeline) A multi-agency Task Force can bring together various stakeholders, including representatives from law enforcement, public health agencies, educational institutions, healthcare providers, community organizations, and individuals with lived experience. The Task Force should develop a coordinated and comprehensive strategy through various approaches; data collection/analysis/intervention/evaluation process, coordination and information sharing, public awareness and education, prevention and harm reduction programs, treatment and rehabilitation services, enforcement, policy, and community engagement. School Districts would participate in the "multi-agency Task Force" if invited.
F2
Agree. The According to CalMatters.org, California Illicit fentanyl is a pervasive problem in Orange County. witnessed a staggering 121% increase in Respondent opioid-related deaths within a span of agrees with the finding merely three years, from 2019 to 2021. The primary culprit behind the vast majority of these fatalities was identified as fentanyl, In 2021, Orange County ranked 8th among all counties in California with the highest incidence of Fentanyl-related overdoses. The rate of such overdoses in Orange County was 1601 East Chestnut Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92701-6322 (714) 558-5501 Fax: (714) 558-5610 BOARD OF EDUCATION Carolyn Torres, President • Alfonso Alvarez, Ed.D., Vice President Hector Bustos, Clerk . Katelyn Brazer Aceves, Member . Rigo Rodriguez, Ph.D., Member recorded at 21.352 per 100k residents, surpassing the overall rate in California (15.625), Riverside (17.053), Los Angeles (13.752), and San Diego (20.125), as reported by the California Department of Public Health. (CDPH) and Skylab. The specific impact on regions within Orange County may need further analysis and buy-in from all partners will be important.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
By July 1, 2024, the NA NA Orange County Board of Supervisors, the Orange County District Attorney, and the Orange County Sheriff should lobby the California State Legislature to add fentanyl to the list of drugs subject to penalty enhancements in felony drug convictions and to add statutory authority for judicial admonishments when drug dealers and traffickers are convicted of fentanyl-related crimes.
F3
Drug dealers use social media to NA NA sell fentanyl and other drugs, Social media business models impede law enforcement investigations.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
By July 1, 2024, Orange NA NA County Law Enforcement agencies should work with social media companies to ensure law enforcement has timely access to drug-related criminal activity information on their platforms.
F4
California law limits prosecution NA NA of fentanyl deaths as homicides. Fentanyl death related cases are selectively referred for federal filing consideration. The Orange County District Attorney has cross-designated one of its own senior deputy district attorneys to prosecute such cases under federal narcotics laws.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
By January 1, 2024, the NA NA Orange County Sheriff's Department, Probation Department, and Orange County Health Care Agency should collaborate to evaluate the effectiveness of existing in-custody and post-custody sobriety treatment programs and determine where improvements can be- incorporated.
F5
California law does not provide NA NA for uniform admonishment of drug dealers of their potential criminal liability for drug-related deaths. Proposed legislation requiring judicial admonishments has been rejected multiple times by the California Legislature.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
Recommendation By January 1, 2024, the The Orange County Department of Education Orange County has not yet been has indicated its intent to develop a model Department of implemented but fentanyl/opioid educational program and offer it Education should will be to all K-12 school districts in Orange County. develop a model implemented in Should this program be offered to Santa Ana the future. fentanyl/opioid Unified it will be considered for review and educational program to implementation. A program of this caliber is an be offered to all K-12 essential step in addressing the fentanyl crisis school districts in by educating and empowering the youth in our Orange County. community, so they can make informed decisions about substance use. The program can help raise awareness of the dangers of Fentanyl and fake pills, promote different coping strategies, and provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to avoid substance abuse.
F6
Under current California Law. ÑΑ NA fentanyl related felonies are not subject to additional penalty for weight enhancements as are other dangerous drugs such as cocaine and heroin.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
By October 1, 2023, the Recommendation The Orange County Department of Education Orange County has not yet been has indicated that it will promote the use of Department of implemented but currently established and in-place fentanyl and Education should will be drug-related educational programs offered by promote the use of OC agencies and non-governmental 5 [Page currently established implemented in organizations to all K-12 school districts in and in-place fentanyl the future. Orange County. Should these programs be and drug-related promoted to Santa Ana Unified they will be educational programs considered for review and implementation. The offered by OC agencies Orange County Department of Education's such as Health Care support has assisted the District staff in raising Agency, OC Sheriff's awareness about the dangers of Fentanyl and Department, and non- other drugs. They have presented to our staff governmental (4/2023) on the dangers of Fentanyl and are organizations to all K-12 presenting to families at the individual school school districts in sites (8/2023). Orange County. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns. Sincerely, Jerry Almendarez Superintendent of Schools Santa Ana Unified School District (714) 558-5501
F7
Orange County will benefit by Agree. The A chartered multi-agency Task Force has establishing a chartered multi- Respondent the potential to create a more focused, agency Task Force to address agrees with collaborative, and effective response to the fentanyl crisis in Orange the finding the fentanyl crisis in Orange County and County, reduce the impact of the opioid epidemic on the community. It can bring a coordinated response, enhanced information sharing, a comprehensive approach, increased resources, targeted strategies, rapid response to emergencies, public awareness and education, and improvement in treatment and support services.
No recommendations for this finding
F8
As long as there is a demand, Agree. The Fentanyl is a dangerous synthetic opioid, producers will find ways to Respondent which has caused a significant public supply drugs. Orange County agrees with health crisis in Orange County. cannot law enforce its way out of the finding the fentanyl crisis. Education, Law enforcement efforts alone cannot prevention, and treatment are fully resolve the issue, as the demand for critical to reducing demand, illicit drugs like fentanyl remains high due to various complex factors. To address this crisis effectively, a comprehensive approach that includes education, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, harm reduction, consideration of socioeconomic factors, culture, and community engagement is crucial.
No recommendations for this finding
F9
There is a need to increase Agree. The Increasing public awareness and public awareness and Respondent acknowledgement of the risks of illicit acknowledgement of the risks of agrees with fentanyl is crucial in combating the illicit fentanyl. the finding fentanyl crisis. Many people may not be fully aware of the dangers associated with fentanyl use, which can lead to unintentional overdoses and fatalities. Raising awareness will potentially prevent overdoses, reduce stigma, empower individuals and communities, target prevention efforts, promote safe practices, inform community partners, and engage families and support networks.
No recommendations for this finding
F10
Some educational institutions Agree. The It is possible that educational institutions are not participating in available Respondent are not participating in the available educational and preventive agrees with educational and preventive fentanyl/drug fentany/drug programs. the finding programs. There could be several reasons why this may occur; lack of resources, lack of awareness, stigma, and resistance, focused on other priorities, perceived lack of relevance, lack of time to implement, and administrative hurdles. Schools could use support, resources, funding, sample policies, tailored programs, and incentives and recognition. SAUSD does do some work in alcohol and substance abuse prevention and intervention through programs such as TUPE and contract provider contracts, but it is not adequate to have a district-wide impact, Please see below for the responses to each required Recommendation as requested in the Orange County Grand Jury report and attached cover letter dated June 14, 2023. R#
No recommendations for this finding

* This report's PDF did not contain easily extractable text and required Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for analysis. There may be minor errors in the extracted findings and recommendations due to OCR limitations with scanned documents.