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(Hanna Scott / KIRO Radio)
The number of overdoses in opioid-related Snohomish County during this year's seven-day count almost doubled from last year's number.
There were 57 this year compared to 37 last year, including 12 in one day
Mark Beatty, Snohomish County Public Health Officer, explains that the increase in overdoses Partly explained by the fact that the county. However, opioid prescription suppression is also a determining factor.
"A lot of effort has been made to reduce the number of opioids dispensed," said Beatty. "Our medical community and the general public have responded, however, for those struggling with opioid addiction, tighter guidelines on new opioid prescriptions have pushed them to try heroin." seven days revealed that at least 61% of the individuals had a heroin overdose. "
And then there is the factor fentanyl
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"Global data show that deaths from fentanyl increase significantly. last month, we had patients who survived an overdose, "Beatty said. "But the number of those who said they suspected they took counterfeit pills has increased dramatically."
Overdose deaths have fallen to two this year. Last year, there were three deaths during the count. Beatty says that one big reason for this is the county and health districts are pushing to make the drug Naloxone reversal-overdose as widely available as possible.
Forty people who overdosed during the count were saved by Naloxone. This includes seven that have been given Naloxone by friends, family or bystanders who wear it.
Adrienne Fraley-Monillas, president of the Snohomish County Health Board says that it's the overall goal – to help people escape the addiction. For those who claim that it is a waste to use all these resources to help people get off the streets and / or drugs, she says people would not say it if they knew someone suffering from addiction.
"They are people [family members] and I think if people thought about it more, they might not think that lives were so useless," she said.
Of the 57 people who overdosed during the count, 33% were homeless, which meant the rest had some sort of shelter. County director Dave Somers says it's revealing.
"These two groups are very different in terms of need," he said.
So, what do they do with all this information taken from the seven-day account? Dr. Beatty says that it's really about making sure that they use the resources they have in the right way.
This is where the Multi-Agency Coordination Group comes in. It brings together all the major agencies, non-profit organizations and other service providers that deal with the opioid crisis; coordinating their response.
"I think we're making progress," Beatty said. "It may not have been shown in numbers, but it takes time for these things to really start showing an impact."
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