Drug overdose deaths in Washington rose nearly 40 percent in 2020, new report says

SEATTLE — A new report by the Washington Department of Healthfound that deaths from drug overdoses in 2020 were up by nearly 40 percent, a troubling trend that occurred as the state was in the beginning stages of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Preliminary data released by the health agency shows that there were 835 overdose deaths from January to June last year, an increase of 228 compared to the same time period in 2019, according to a news release issued by the state health department.

Officials linked the rise in deaths in Washington state largely to the opioid crisis, pointing specifically to the opioid fentanyl, which has been linked to accidental deaths because of its addictive properties.

Deadly overdoses involving the drug more than doubled from 137 to 309 in the same six-month span, with most of these deaths involving other substances as well, according to the statement.

Health experts mainly blame the COVID-19 pandemic for the alarming uptick in overdose deaths.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all of us,” said Bob Lutz, state medical advisor for the COVID-19 response. “Those Washingtonians with substance use disorder may have found themselves using more frequently, and unfortunately, the data suggest they are also overdosing more often.”

Similar to the COVID-19 pandemic, this surge in the opioid epidemic was also exacerbated in Washington state by inequity throughout the healthcare system, health officials said.

Data shows that the increase in overdose deaths was highest among minority groups, including Indigenous People and Alaskan native groups, the Hispanic community and among the state’s African-American population.

Health experts studying the latest data say that the most concerning part is that many of the overdoses are caused by illicit fentanyl being put in counterfeit pills as well as powders and black tar heroin.

Counterfeit pills are perhaps the scariest source of these overdoses since they’re made to look like legitimate, prescribed opioids, yet it’s often difficult to tell if fentanyl is present. This is why the DOH says that everyone should assume any drug not from a pharmacy could have fentanyl in it.

Anyone that comes across someone potentially overdosing should call 911, administer Naloxone and perform rescue breathing.

Naloxone is available to everyone at pharmacies and can be given out without a doctor’s order or prescription under a statewide rule