07.24.23

Cantwell Convenes Fentanyl Roundtable in Seattle

State of WA experienced biggest increase in drug overdose deaths in the U.S.; 712 overdose deaths in King Co. linked to fentanyl in 2022

SEATTLE, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) heard from first responders, health care providers, law enforcement, and members of the community who have been personally impacted by fentanyl during a roundtable discussion in downtown Seattle at Fire Station 10.

Today’s discussion marked Sen. Cantwell’s fourth listening session as she seeks to learn about the experiences of people on the front lines of the fentanyl crisis from all across Washington state. In May, Sen. Cantwell hosted a fentanyl crisis roundtable discussion in Pierce County followed by a second roundtable discussion in Snohomish County in June. Just last week, Sen. Cantwell hosted a roundtable discussion in Benton County.

“We are looking for the feedback and solutions that are working here on the ground, but obviously we are here because this is a crisis,” said Sen. Cantwell. “We need to take a multi-pronged approach to tackling this crisis. That means increasing capacity for treatment centers, better supporting first responders and law enforcement, including stocking them with naloxone and Narcan, and helping people before they become addicted by increasing our mental health care workforce, affordable housing, and better educating the public on how deadly fentanyl is. We also need to cut off the supply of this scourge before it gets into our communities in the first place.”

Roundtable participants included Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell; representatives from the Seattle Fire Department, Evergreen Treatment Services, the Center for Community-Engaged Drug Addiction, Epidemiology and Research (CEDEER) at UW’s Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute, and the Perigee Fund; and two people with lived experience of fentanyl addiction.

“Fentanyl is taking too many lives and harming too many families in every city, county, and state in this country,” said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. “We need a comprehensive, all-hands-on-deck approach to hold those who are trafficking deadly drugs accountable and help people struggling with substance use disorder access the treatment and supportive services they deserve. This work is too important to not have everyone at the table, which is why we will continue to work with federal partners, service providers, law enforcement, and anyone willing to lend a hand to advance effective, sustainable solutions to the deadly public health crisis we are seeing on our streets and in our communities.”

Drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in Washington state, outnumbering deaths from vehicle collisions and firearms. Data released earlier this year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that the State of Washington experienced the single highest increase among U.S. states in reported drug overdose deaths between February 2022 and February 2023, an increase of 21.42%.

According to the CDC, 105,258 people in the United States died of drug overdoses and drug poisonings in the 12-month period ending in February 2023 – a figure that the CDC projects will increase with additional reporting – and a staggering 67% of overdose deaths in 2022 involved synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Last month, researchers at the University of Washington reported that in 2022, fentanyl was involved in 90% of opioid overdoses in Washington state and 65% of all overdose deaths.

Data released earlier this year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) projects that the State of Washington experienced the single highest increase among U.S. states in reported drug overdose deaths from between February 2022 and February 2023, an increase of 21.42%. 

In King County, fentanyl was the cause of 712 overdose deaths in 2022, up from 23 overdose deaths in 2016.

Photos from the roundtable are available for use HERE.

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