In Sonoma County’s fight against fentanyl, a Santa Rosa nonprofit has quietly become a crucial lifeline. New state and local data show that Face to Face’s harm-reduction push, powered by mobile outreach, vending kiosks and partner distribution, is reaching people in the same neighborhoods where overdoses are happening and is tied to a striking share of reported reversals. Local leaders say the results underscore how low-barrier naloxone access and basic training can blunt the danger of fentanyl in the drug supply.
In 2024, Face to Face accounted for about 66% of reported overdose reversals recorded through Sonoma County’s Naloxone Distribution Program while distributing roughly 44% of the naloxone supplied to the county, according to The Press Democrat. That concentration of reversals emerged despite a broader countywide distribution network, and it has drawn attention from public health officials and harm reduction advocates.
The nonprofit pairs naloxone distribution with training plus on-site HIV, hepatitis C and syphilis testing, syringe services and drug-checking supplies. Those services run through drop-in hours, partner sites and a mobile unit that takes the operation on the road. Face to Face emphasizes meeting people where they are to strip away barriers to care, and its website lays out routes, services and drop-in hours. For details, see the overdose prevention page on Face to Face…