Overdose Surveillance and Response in San Diego County

Last updated 11/13/2025.

In response to the need for a comprehensive drug overdose surveillance and response system, the County of San Diego created the Overdose Surveillance and Response (OSAR) program in the fall of 2023. This program is a collaborative effort between County Health and Human Services Agency, Public Health Services, and Behavioral Health Services, with support from the County Medical Examiner's Office and County Emergency Medical Services.

The program's design is centered around:

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  • Surveillance: Focuses on monitoring overdose data across the County, analyzing it to detect crisis events, identifying geographic hotspots, and tracking trends in substance use.
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  • Investigation and Response: Efforts are initiated when geographic clusters and data spikes are identified, involving street-level outreach in affected areas to distribute harm reduction supplies - such as naloxone (an opioid overdose reversal medication) and fentanyl test strips - and to provide health and community-based referrals.
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  • Community Engagement: Involves raising awareness of the risks of associated with substance use, promoting harm reduction strategies, and connecting individuals to local resources.
The OSAR program provides data on drug-related overdose outcomes in San Diego County.

Drug Overdose Dashboard

Data on drug-related overdose outcomes in San Diego County.
The OSAR program provides data on drug trends and alerts in San Diego County.

Drug Trends and Alerts

A hub for reports and alerts on overdose activity and substance use.
Find Locations that distribute naloxone in San Diego. Naloxone is a medication that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose.

Naloxone

Learn where to get and how to use medication to reverse an opioid overdose.
The OSAR program focuses on surveillance which includes the continued sharing the Overdose Quarterly and Annual Opioid-Related Overdoses and Encounters in San Diego Reports.

Data and Reports

Findings from analyzing drug overdose data.

Find information on continuing education courses, Overdose Data to Action Quarterly Newsletter, CURES 2.0, handouts, and CDC Opioid Guidelines Mobile App, and opioid prescribing resources.

Provider Resources

Guidelines, resources, and continuing education.
Find information on Syringe Service Programs, responding to an overdose, fentanyl test strips, and other local resources.

Community Resources

Information on harm reduction services, opioid overdose response, and more.

Contact the Overdose Surveillance and Response program via email at PHS.OSAR.HHSA@sdcounty.ca.gov, or call the Epidemiology Unit at (619) 692-8499, for more information.