Governors Briefs: California Fights Opioid Crisis and New Appointment

California Adds Resources to Fight the Opioid Crisis

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Newsom Dec. 14 launched a new tool to continue California’s efforts in fighting the ongoing opioid crisis — a comprehensive website with resources for Californians: Opioids.CA.GOV. This website serves as a source of information on prevention, data, treatment and support where Californians can also access information related to the state’s use of opioid settlement funds and efforts to hold drug-traffickers accountable. 

Additionally, California is investing nearly $8 million in local organizations to support education, testing, recovery and support services — focusing on closing gaps in access to care and reducing inequities for populations at greater risk for overdose. These investments are being made in local organizations in Northern California, the Central Valley and Southern California.

These initiatives are part of Gov. Newsom’s billion-dollar master plan, a multi-pronged approach to tackle the opioid crisis, prevent and reduce overdoses and deaths, and support people struggling with substance abuse and addiction.

Nearly 7,000 Californians died from opioid-related overdoses in 2022. More than 83,000 opioid-related overdose deaths occur per year across the country — more than 90% of which involve fentanyl. With opioids continuing to be a main driver of drug overdose deaths, this user-friendly site provides information and education on preventing and treating opioid overdoses and substance use disorders.

About the website’s five main sections:

• About: Background on opioids and fentanyl, the serious harms they can cause, and the evolution of the opioid crisis.
• Prevention: Prevention methods and strategies that anyone can use, including step-by-step guidance for responding to a suspected or confirmed opioid overdose.
• Data & Information: The latest overdose and substance abuse and misuse data and trends.
• Treatment & Support: Resources for those struggling with, or supporting someone with, an opioid use disorder or addiction.
• California Action: Details on California’s efforts to tackle the opioid epidemic, including use of settlement funds and enforcement actions targeting traffickers and dealers.

Gov. Newsom Announces Appointments

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom Dec. 7 announced the following appointment:

Alexandre Rasouli, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the California State Lottery Commission, where he has served since 2023. Rasouli has been an orthopedic surgeon at 90210 Precision Ambulatory Surgical Centers since 2016. He has been an orthopedic surgeon at Spalding Ambulatory Surgical Center since 2016. Rasouli has been a spinal surgeon at RasouliSpine since 2021. He has been a consultant reviewer at the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery since 2008. Rasouli was an orthopedic surgeon at the Spine Center at Cedars-Sinai from 2008 to 2021. He was on the medical staff at The Spine Institute from 2008 to 2011. Rasouli is a member of the North American Spine Society. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular Biology from Stanford University and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Rasouli is not registered to vote.