Health officials urge people who use drugs to carry Narcan as overdose deaths on the rise in Washington

Overdose deaths linked to fentanyl are reaching record-breaking levels in Washington state.
Author: Christine Pae (KING 5)
Published: 9:53 PM PDT July 20, 2021
Updated: 7:55 AM PDT July 21, 2021
BELLEVUE, Wash. — Washington state health officials are noticing an alarming increase in overdose cases related to fentanyl in recent months compared to this time last year.
Health officials said in a news release Tuesday that cases are reaching record-breaking levels and are now urging people to carry naloxone, a drug that reverses the effects of opioid overdoses, if they plan on taking illicit drugs.
There were 418 overdose deaths in the first three months of 2021, compared to 378 during the same time last year, according to preliminary data from the Washington Department of Health (DOH). Of the 2021 overdose deaths, 46% were linked to fentanyl, with the highest rises seen among Native and Alaska Native, Latinx and Black communities.

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