Vista Community Clinic to spend $136,000 on San Diego overdose prevention
The clinic will hire new staff to reach residents in parks and encampments with education and naloxone.
By Austin Reed ·
Vista Community Clinic will receive $136,000 in federal funds to expand its overdose prevention work in North County San Diego. The grant is part of a larger California distribution of more than $21 million to 112 organizations statewide. Ten groups in San Diego County are among the recipients.
The clinic plans to use the money to hire at least one full-time employee. This new staff member will focus on substance use education and outreach. The goal is to connect with residents who do not typically visit traditional health care facilities.
Nestor Venegas, who oversees disease prevention at the clinic, said the team will go directly to where people live. He noted they will visit local parks and homeless encampments. The staff will build rapport with residents and share information about available resources. They will also provide naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses.
San Diego County reported 840 overdose deaths last year. That number is an 11% drop from 2024. Venegas said the work remains necessary because the death toll has not reached zero. He added that people are still suffering from substance use issues despite current efforts.
The clinic will track the number of people it reaches and the amount of naloxone it distributes. These metrics will help measure the impact of the new funding. The organization has already begun some of this education work, and the grant will allow it to expand those existing programs.
