Community initiatives and changing fentanyl supply may be driving a decrease in overdose deaths, say experts from Public Health Seattle King County and HSPop.
Recent data shows a promising yet cautious decline in fatal fentanyl overdoses in King County. Experts like Brad Finegood, strategic advisor at Public Health — Seattle & King County’s opioid and overdose response, Caleb Banta-Green, adjunct professor in HSPOP, and Director of the Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute Dr. Susan Ferguson all credit community-level efforts. These efforts include the widespread availability of naloxone and harm reduction measures, which are proving to be critical factors in the decrease.
This local progress aligns with findings from the CORES study which explored community-based opioid response strategies. The study provided insights into how expanded treatment access and harm reduction interventions can help curb overdose deaths. “What I get from the data is hope,” said Finegood, “What it tells us is that the time we’ve spent building out this infrastructure…is starting to have an impact.”
Banta-Green also pointed out that changes in the fentanyl supply could be a factor in decreasing overdose deaths, explaining, “Sometimes there’s other forms of fentanyl in there. There’s other random things in there. Sometimes there’s no fentanyl,” he said. While the exact cause remains unclear, the trend is still encouraging. To explore the full discussion of King County’s recent overdose trends, read the full Seattle Times article below.