Free Narcan Available at Mosaic Clinics to Combat Oregon’s Opioid Crisis

Oregon, like the rest of the U.S., continues to experience an opioid crisis — and we in Central Oregon are not immune.

Since 2020, fatal overdoses involving illicitly manufactured fentanyl have significantly risen across Oregon. The number of unintentional overdose deaths related to illicitly manufactured fentanyl nearly quadrupled between 2020 and 2022, increasing from 223 to 843 fatalities. (Source: CDC SUDORS Dashboard: Fatal Drug Overdose Data)

In 2023, Deschutes County created an Opioid Overdose Response Team, and in February 2024, the Deschutes County commissioner declared a state of emergency to address the fentanyl crisis.

Mosaic, alongside community partners, has taken a leadership role in supporting our community during this crisis. We have a robust team embedded in clinics across the tri-county region providing medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to patients struggling with opioid use disorder and making a positive impact.

Mosaic also applied for and received a Save Lives Oregon grant, which allows our clinics to distribute naloxone, also known as Narcan, free of charge. Mosaic was awarded $13,125 to use for Harm Reduction Clearinghouse supplies. With this funding, we purchased Narcan to provide lifesaving medication to patients and community members at no cost.

Narcan is a medication that reverses opioid overdoses and saves lives. It’s easy to administer and can be used by anyone. We believe it is our collective responsibility to help loved ones, neighbors, friends, family and community members stay alive. You can do your part by carrying Narcan and being prepared in case someone experiences an opioid overdose. Oregon’s Good Samaritan laws protect individuals who administer Narcan, just as they protect someone performing CPR.

Mosaic offers Narcan at no cost, available at all our clinics. Simply come in and ask for it — no questions asked and no personal information required. You can be part of the effort to support our community during this crisis.

According to the Oregon Health Authority, when bystanders are trained to administer naloxone, survival rates from opioid overdoses increase to 83% or higher.

Deschutes County Health Services launched Friends for Life, a countywide campaign aimed at raising public awareness about opioid and fentanyl use and helping prevent opioid-related overdoses. Visit the website to learn more about fentanyl and other opioids, how to recognize an overdose, ways to prevent one and how to use Narcan.

Let’s come together as a community to care for one another and save lives. Visit any of our clinics today. We look forward to seeing you.

Additional resources:

• Friends for Life campaign launched in January 2025
• Deschutes County Harm Reduction Program
• Never Use alone line: 800-484-3731 or 877-696-1996
• Recovery Network of Oregon

Information provided by Sierra Groenewold, LPC, MAT (Medication Assisted Treatment) and BH (Behavioral Health) manager at Mosaic Community Health. Sierra is passionate about reducing stigma and shame attached to substance use and mental health conditions and works to provide a no-wrong-door policy for people seeking care.