Los Angeles County is currently experiencing the worst overdose crisis in history. The spike in opioid-related deaths in recent years has been a major concern for citizens and business owners.  The Los Angeles Department of Public Health works towards aiding this issue through harm reduction services. 

Brian Hurley, an addiction psychiatrist and a medical director in Los Angeles County’s Bureau of Substance Abuse Prevention and Control explained the harm reduction services, obstacles and goals of these services. 

The department has many hopes for the future in overcoming these obstacles. Hurley stated, “harm reduction services have been historically underfunded. In terms of staff, budgets and getting these services to scale- the city has very big hospital systems, smaller mental health clinics, and even smaller addiction treatment programs.”

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