Opioid Crisis

2023 set to be deadliest year yet for overdoses in King County

King County is headed towards a somber milestone. 2023 is slated to become the deadliest on record for overdoses in the county.

Freeze! Police! What happens when people get caught doing drugs in Seattle?

Now that the dust has settled, what does the city's new drug ordinance mean for people who use drugs in public and others who witness or are otherwise impacted by that use?

Drug-maker Mallinckrodt may renege on $1.7 billion opioid settlement

Victims of prescription opioid addiction as well as communities slammed by the opioid crisis could wind up with nothing if Mallinckrodt files for a second bankruptcy.

Fentanyl death toll continues to surge in King County

King County continues to face an alarming number of drug-related fatalities, many related to the potent synthetic opioid, fentanyl. According to county data, there were 3 fentanyl-involved deaths in 2015. In recent years, such deaths have risen dramatically, totaling 712 last year.

New state dashboard shows rising drug-related deaths

A new state dashboard gives further insight into the number of drug-related deaths and hospitalizations occurring in Washington. The dashboard shows there were 7,598 fatal overdoses from 2017 through 2021, the majority related to opioids. Deaths have been climbing sharply for the past few years.

Over-the-counter Narcan will save lives, experts say. But the cost will affect access

Advisers to the FDA put the opioid overdose-reversal drug a step closer to being sold without a needing a prescription. Even if approved, the medication may not reach many people who need it.

Increasing overdose deaths stress King County morgue

King County is experiencing a grim indicator of how bad the opioid crisis has become — a lack of space to store bodies. Public Health Director Faisal Khan said the Medical Examiner's office has finite space in the coolers they use, and that space is being exceeded on a regular basis.

Walmart poised to pay Washington millions for opioid programs