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Fentanyl continues to be one of the main causes of the opioid crisis in Washington. (Photo by Drew Angerer / Getty Images)
Washington continues to face a worrying increase in fentanyl-related deaths, with the state Department of Health warning that overall overdose rates could be “on course to break another record in 2021.”
Fentanyl overdoses in Washington see ‘astonishing’ increase in 2020
In 2020, there were more overdose deaths in Washington than there have been in any other year in the past decade. According to the DOH, the state appears to be heading for even higher rates in 2021, with “preliminary data” estimating that there were 418 overdose deaths between January and March. During the same period last year, there were 378 such deaths.
This increase has been constant across all age groups, races, ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds. Of the 418 deaths recorded in the first three months of this year, almost half have been linked to fentanyl.
Fentanyl is commonly found in counterfeit pills designed to look like prescription opiates like oxycodone. The risk is that fentanyl is 30 to 50 times stronger than pure heroin, and a dose the size of a few grains of salt can be fatal.
As the DOH seeks to tackle the growing prevalence of fentanyl in Washington, it urges people to be aware of the signs of an overdose, and that “people carry naloxone if they plan to take any drug not purchased in. a pharmacy or cannabis dispensary, or have friends and family who do.
Seattle to fund 700 naloxone kits as part of fentanyl awareness
Naloxone is frequently used to reverse the effects of overdoses as they occur, and can be crucial in stabilizing someone before medical first responders arrive.
“The first few minutes are essential with a potential overdose, especially in rural areas where EMS can take 10 minutes or more to arrive. The majority of overdose reversals occur because a layman was the first responder and administered naloxone, ”DOH medical adviser Dr. Bob Lutz said in a press release. “Not all substance use has to lead to an overdose. The more we can train Washingtonians to recognize and respond to overdoses, and transport naloxone, the more collectively we will be prepared to fight an epidemic of drug poisoning. “
In mid-January, King County health officials sounded the alarm after seeing the highest ever documented number of overdose deaths in a two-week period the county did ever seen.
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