Submitted by: Meredith Johnston, Vice President, Development

Since 2011, the Substance Use Disorder Outpatient program’s impact on the community is almost immeasurable. Family Health Centers of San Diego (FHCSD) has had the opportunity to serve approximately 8,200 unique patients through the County of San Diego Behavioral Health Services contracts, witnessing the transformation of lives, families, and communities. Through regular graduations, testimonials are shared about the impact of substance use disorder treatment, underscoring the importance of equitable and affordable access to substance use treatment services throughout our county. We have had the honor of watching these transformations and having audience members including San Diego Police Department, City Attorneys, Public Defenders, Probation and Parole Officers, City Officials, County Officials and most importantly, family members and friends of those completing treatment.  

Through our Nurse Practitioner Training program, Family Medicine Residency, Psychiatric Residency and partnerships with local hospital systems, we are proud to offer important education on substance use disorders to help train future providers and equip them with the knowledge, compassion and evidence-based treatment options to help treat their patients. Countless trainees, residents and Fellows have rotated through Family Health Center San Diego's Substance Use Disorder treatment programs, giving them a personal experience with someone living with a substance use disorder and becoming educated beyond what a textbook can provide. By virtue of these contracts, we are helping train future medical providers on substance use disorder and mental health, helping future generations of community members and providers to be culturally sensitive and knowledgeable about substance use disorder.  

As we continue addressing the Opioid epidemic, our partnerships have proven effective in providing education and harm reduction supplies, including Fentanyl Test Strips and Narcan to our communities. Overdoses have been reversed and lives have been saved with these tools, and partnership with the County of San Diego has supported making these resources available. Visit our website to access services or learn more about the resources available to you!