Meet Darris

Preventing Fatal Opioid Overdose Deaths in Contra Costa County

Before entering graduate school, I served as an AmeriCorps VISTA Contra Costa Overdose Prevention Coordinator for the Contra Costa County Medication Education & Disposal Safety (MEDS) Coalition in El Cerrito, California. In this role, I focused on education, outreach, and building collaborations with public agencies and community-based organizations to prevent fentanyl-related overdose deaths and create a safer, healthier community in Contra Costa County. In addition, I developed promotional campaigns to raise awareness of the local treatment resource pages and drive traffic to the organization's website. I utilized social media marketing, email newsletters, and community outreach events to reach target audiences and encourage the utilization of available resources in Contra Costa County.

Some of my accomplishments include the following:

Comprehensive Local Treatment Directory: Created and maintained a user-friendly web page featuring a comprehensive directory of local treatment resources for substance use disorders, including detoxification centers, rehabilitation facilities, outpatient clinics, and support groups in Contra Costa County. Organized resources by location, treatment type, and specialized services for easy navigation and accessibility.
Comprehensive Safe Medication Disposal Directory: Developed a comprehensive webpage listing local, accessible locations for the safe disposal of unused or expired medications to reduce the risk of accidental overdose and misuse.
Xylazine Educational Resource Page: Designed and developed a dedicated web page on the organization’s website focused on xylazine education, awareness, and harm reduction.
Integration with Helpline Services: Integrated the Contra Costa Behavioral Health Access Line, the Contra Costa Crisis Center Line, the A3 Miles Hall Crisis Call Center, and the City of Antioch's Angelo Quinto Community Response Team helpline and crisis intervention resources directly into the organization's web pages to provide immediate assistance to individuals in crisis.
Naloxone Distribution to Unhoused Populations: Distributed 34 naloxone overdose rescue kits, 58, xylazine test strips, and 66 fentanyl test strips to unhoused individuals at the City of Antioch's Unhoused Resource Fair in Antioch, California.
Naloxone Distribution to Churches & Faith Organizations: Distributed 11 naloxone overdose rescue kits, 6 fentanyl test strips, and 6 xylazine test strips to parishioners at First African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Community Church of Bay Point in Bay Point, California.
Naloxone Distributions to Mount Diablo Unified School District: Distributed 580 naloxone overdose rescue kits to parents, teachers, and community residents within the Mount Diablo Unified School District.

Fentanyl Awareness Event at First AME Community Church of Bay Point

March 9, 2024: Darris Thomas is explaining the local risk of fentanyl in Contra Costa County (and more specifically, the East Contra Costa County cities of Pittsburg, Bay Point, and Antioch), and local treatment resources to help keep residents safe from illicitly manufactured fentanyl to parishioners at First African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Community Church of Bay Point, located in Bay Point, California. He and the coalition staff members distributed 11 overdose rescue kits, 6 fentanyl test strips, and 6 xylazine test strips to participants at the event.

City of Antioch Unhoused Resource Fair

February 14, 2024: Darris Thomas & Mariella Sanding are tabling at the City of Antioch's Unhoused Resource Fair, which was held at the Nick Rodriguez Community Center. They distributed 34 Narcan kits, 58 xylazine test strips, and 66 fentanyl test strips to unhoused individuals in Antioch, California.

City of Walnut Creek Declares the Month of October as National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month

October 2, 2023: The City of Walnut Creek declared the month of October as National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month, which is observed annually to raise awareness of the dangers of prescription and over-the-counter medicine abuse. In their proclamation, the City of Walnut Creek highlighted the Contra Costa County MEDS Coalition’s role in National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month by engaging youth and adult stakeholders from across Contra Costa County to learn more about the dangers of medicine abuse, promoting safe medication storage and disposal, and ensuring that naloxone is available for those at high risk of overdose.

City of Orinda Declares March as Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Month

March 5, 2024: At the city council meeting, Vice Mayor Latika Malkani declared the month of March as Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Month. Darris Thomas, representing the Contra Costa County MEDS Coalition, accepted the proclamation certificate. Click on You can watch the entire city council meeting by clicking here.

Fentanyl Awareness at College Park High School in Pleasant Hill, CA

September 28, 2023: Darris Thomas and Mariella Sanding presented at the Fentanyl Awareness event at College Park High School in Pleasant Hill, California, to bring fentanyl awareness and education to parents and students. The MEDS Coalition distributed 52 Narcan kits to parents and families at the event.

Caption: Darris Thomas is providing information on fentanyl to a parent of students at College Park High School in Pleasant Hill, California.

Live Well Senior Resource Fair at Alcosta Senior & Community Center in San Ramon, CA

September 28, 2023: The Contra Costa County MEDS Coalition presented at the Live Well Senior Resource Fair at the Alcosta Senior & Community Center in San Ramon, California, to bring prescription drug safety education and awareness to senior citizens of the San Ramon Valley area. The coalition representatives distributed 15 Narcan kits to attendees and community members at the event.

Creating Social Media Posts & Visuals Pertaining to the Local Impact of the Opioid Epidemic in Contra Costa County

As an AmeriCorps VISTA Contra Costa Overdose Prevention Coordinator, one of my favorite responsibilities was designing compelling graphics, posters, and educational posts for social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) and other digital channels while ensuring that the content is informative, engaging, and tailored to target audiences. Here are some examples of social media graphics, posters, and educational posts that I created during my year of service pertaining to the local impact of the opioid epidemic in Contra Costa County! Click on the button below!

Click Here!

The Opioid Crisis and its Impact on Black Americans in Contra Costa County

My favorite presentation that I delivered during our annual monthly coalition meetings was in February of 2023: I delievered a presentation on the impact of the opioid epidemic on Black and African Americans in Contra Costa County. Here are some social media posts and infographics that I created pertaining to the opioid crisis on Black and African Americans in Contra Costa County and across the United States! Click on the button below!

Click Here!

Domestic Violence & Prescription Drug Abuse in Contra Costa County

In Contra Costa County, the opioid crisis and domestic violence are not isolated problems; they are deeply connected and require comprehensive and coordinated responses from public health, social services, law enforcement, and community organizations. Addressing these intertwined issues effectively requires an integrated approach to prevention and treatment and a strong focus on supporting the most vulnerable populations in the community.

In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Darris Thomas gave a presentation that analyzed the relationship between prescription drug abuse and domestic violence, and the local impact of this relationship here in Contra Costa County at our annual monthly coalition meeting. Click on the button below to learn more!

Click Here!

The Impact of the Opioid Crisis on LGBTQIA+ Communities in Contra Costa County

The opioid crisis has had a significant impact on the LGBTQIA+ population in Contra Costa County. People who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and other sexual and gender minorities often face unique challenges that make them more vulnerable to substance misuse, including opioid addiction. The opioid epidemic has exacerbated these vulnerabilities, and the consequences are particularly acute for LGBTQIA+ individuals, who may experience heightened rates of substance use, mental health issues, and social marginalization. Click on the button below to learn more!

Click Here!

Page updated

Report abuse