Public Safety · Stanislaus County
Stanislaus County Has Highest Opioid Prescription Rate in California
Stanislaus County's opioid prescription rate of 434 per 1,000 residents in 2025 is nearly double the statewide rate and higher than any other California county, according to data obtained by the local Opioid Safety Coalition. Drug-related deaths in the county average two to three per week, sometimes reaching four, driven largely by illegal fentanyl. At an Oct. 8 coalition meeting, members reviewed follow-up care for emergency department overdose visits: only 23% of patients received support within seven days and 34.5% within 30 days, below the national average of 39%. The coalition, which includes county government, health care, education, criminal justice, and nonprofit representatives, has organized awareness events, Narcan distribution, and school education activities in response to the crisis.