In Washington State fentanyl-involved drug overdose deaths are increasing, and data from the WA State Department of Health indicate that by late 2021 they surpassed psychostimulants with abuse potential (mostly methamphetamine) in contributing to drug poisoning deaths.

Sep 28, 2023 · The “ Prevent Overdose WA ” campaign, developed in response to the growing numbers of fentanyl and opioid overdose deaths, informs Washingtonians about the risks of fentanyl and the power of naloxone to reverse opioid overdoses.

Fentanyl is an opioid medicine that has medical uses for pain control in both humans and animals. Fentanyl is also produced and sold illegally. If misused, fentanyl can cause a person’s breathing to slow and stop; this is often called an “overdose.” If breathing stops, a person can die.

Drug overdose and opioid misuse is a serious public health crisis in the United States. This epidemic includes the use of heroin, prescription opioids, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. Drug overdose deaths from prescription and illicit opioids have sharply increased since 1999.

Mar 20, 2024 · “Fentanyl is the nuclear weapon of drugs,” said Gov. Jay Inslee during his December budget proposal. Inslee’s proposals for the 2024 legislative session reflected the scale of the fentanyl...

Already vulnerable populations are dealing with the increasing impact of fentanyl. In 2023, King County saw a 50% increase in overdose deaths among those individuals whose housing status was considered “unsheltered” or “emergency shelter” compared to 2022.

Fentanyl has increased in prominence, from less than 9% of crime lab submissions in 2020 to 58% in 2023. Heroin was found in 5% of cases in 2023.

Opioid overdose deaths rose from 2013 through 2019, and then accelerated sharply. The increase in opioid overdose deaths was originally driven by heroin deaths, and more recently, fentanyl deaths. Deaths involving commonly prescribed opioids declined between 2009 and 2019 before increasing slightly.

Like so much of the country, Washington state is amid a growing fentanyl/opioid crisis. Overdose deaths have doubled in just three years.

May 17, 2023 · The new Washington law comes amid renewed debates across the country about the best policies to address drug use and addiction as the country confronts a fentanyl drug crisis.