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In light of San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan’s charges filed against the former Chief Operating Officer of the Harm Reduction Coalition of San Diego involving alleged misuse of County grant funds designated for naloxone distribution, A New PATH, SAY San Diego, and Project AWARE, each previously subcontracted under that grant, are united in reaffirming our continued commitment to the community.
All three organizations remain actively engaged in providing overdose prevention education, training, and naloxone distribution throughout San Diego County. Despite the challenges posed by these developments, our shared mission has not changed. Each organization continues to operate with full accountability and transparency, delivering essential, County-funded services that save lives and support individuals, families, and communities affected by substance use and overdose.
A New PATH (Parents for Addiction Treatment & Healing) has been providing overdose prevention training and naloxone distribution throughout San Diego County since 2014. We have trained over 39,000 individuals in how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose and have 3518 overdose reversals reported through our program. We are currently contracted with the County of San Diego to provide professional overdose prevention training with naloxone. We have 8 naloxone access points across the county where the public can access free naloxone and fentanyl and xylazine test strips and provide street outreach in at-risk neighborhoods from Oceanside to San Ysidro.
“Overdose deaths involving fentanyl dropped dramatically from 802 in 2022 to 380 in 2025, largely attributed to widespread naloxone distribution and adoption of medication assisted treatment (MAT). However, overdose rates continue to rise in communities of color and poverty, so our advocacy and services remain critically important to our community.” Gretchen Burns Bergman, Co-Founder, Executive Director A New PATH
Since 2022, SAY San Diego has led a countywide Harm Reduction Education and Training Program providing substance misuse prevention education, training, and technical assistance to residents, community groups, employers, and partner organizations throughout San Diego County. SAY’s program is grounded in the understanding that substance misuse is a public-health crisis affecting individuals, families, workplaces, and neighborhoods, and that stigma-free education and access to lifesaving resources are essential to improving community health and safety. Through the Harm Reduction Education and Training Program, SAY has trained more than 50,000 individuals across San Diego County on fentanyl and opioid risks and has distributed over 45,000 boxes of Naloxone (Narcan) Nasal Spray, substantially increasing community preparedness to prevent fatal overdoses.
“These numbers represent far more than training sessions or boxes delivered; they represent lives protected, families supported, and communities strengthened. We are proud to partner with so many dedicated organizations and individuals who share our belief that everyone deserves access to stigma‑free education and the tools that keep our neighborhoods safe.” Louie Nguyen, CEO/President SAY San Diego
Project Aware programs provide community-based resources for youth and families who are facing problems, with over 12 years’ experience specializing in alternative programs for at-risk youth.
“Project AWARE continues to serve the communities of those who are most vulnerable.” Reggie Washington, CEO & Founder / Project Aware
For more information or to obtain overdose prevention training and naloxone:
A New PATH: april@anewpath.org, 619-670-1184, www.anewpath.org
SAY San Diego: info@saysandiego.org, 858-565-4148, www.saysandiego.org
Project Aware: projectawareprogram@gmail.com, 760-828-7002, www.projectawareenterprises.org
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