The University of Washington’s Addictions, Drug and Alcohol Institute conducted a study comparing drug deaths from 2002-04 to deaths from 2021-23 in Washington counties.
The study compared deaths per 100,000 residents. According to the study, from 2002-04 Whitman County experienced 0.81 opioid-involved deaths, and from 2021-23 Whitman County experienced 9.25 opioid-involved deaths. That is around a 1,040% increase.
To put that number in perspective, King County had 5.35 deaths from 2002–04 and 32.59 deaths from 2021–23, which is around a 509% increase.
Data was collected from the Washington State Department of Health Center for Health Statistics and the Office of Financial Management for the study.
A major reason for increased opioid deaths is fentanyl. Fentanyl is a severe pain reliever that is often used for surgery. 2mg is considered to be a lethal dose. Fake pills have been known to be laced with fentanyl.
David Reames, DEA Special Agent in Charge, said the main reason for overdosing comes from respiration problems but even when an overdose doesn’t occur the highly addictive substance can cause substance abuse along with a number of physiological problems.
Naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, is a medicine that works to reverse opioid overdoses. It is most widely administrated through a nasal spray. Free Narcan nasal spray kits are available at the Cougar Health Service’s pharmacy for anyone in the community. Narcan is also distributed by Whitman County Public Health.
According to the 2023 WCPH Annual Impact Report, Narcan was distributed 44 times by WCPH and 1,220 syringes were returned in their Needle Exchange Program.
“There is no doubt Narcan saves lives… but just having a Narcan in your pocket is not going to guarantee safety,” Reames said.
It is recommended people carry naloxone to help prevent overdoses from occurring. When naloxone is administered to someone who does not have opioids in their system it has no effect.
“Drug poisonings are the number one cause of death for people aged 18–45. That’s obviously the entire college-age population. It’s more than cancer, more than heart attacks, more than gun violence, it’s the leading cause of death,” Reames said.
