Drug alerts

Correction: Xylazine remains rare in King County drug supply

Xylazine remains rare in King County drug supply. Public Health is monitoring closely and will alert if changes occur.

Xylazine (aka Tranq) found in street drug supplies in King County

Xylazine (aka Tranq) has been seen (a handful of times) in King County and the State of Washington, exclusively in other drugs.

If you have concerns what is in your drugs, contact your local harm reduction agency and see info sheet. The Xylazine fact sheet is also available to order in hard copy format.

While fentanyl pills remain common, carry naloxone and avoid using alone.

While fentanyl pills remain common, we're seeing more fentanyl overdoses from powder and in some cases, people may believe they are using white powder cocaine. The concentration of fentanyl in powder varies – even a small amount can be deadly. Make sure to carry naloxone and avoid using alone. Information from a recent review of drug samples at https://adai.uw.edu/fentanyl-testing-results

Substance use disorder is a treatable health condition. If you have substance use disorder or are looking for support for someone you know, you can learn about treatment options and choose the option that feels best. Find a treatment provider at the Washington Recovery Helpline.

Vending machines dispense critical tools for preventing overdose

With the risk of fatal overdose from fentanyl, we want to ensure everyone in King County has access to tools to help reduce the risk of overdose deaths in our community. Naloxone, the medication to reverse an overdose, and fentanyl test strips are two of the critical tools to help prevent fatal overdoses.

Over the past year, King County has been working with community organizations to expand access to both tools—leading to the distribution of over 100,000 fentanyl test strips and over 13,000 naloxone kits. As part of this outreach effort, Public Health has been working to lower barriers to overdose prevention supplies, not only through online ordering but also through placing supplies in vending machines where they can be easily accessible.

Continue reading from the Public Health Insider blog (posted April 13, 2023).

Why it’s more important than ever not to use fentanyl alone

Given the high risk of overdose from pills and powder containing fentanyl, we are urging people not to use alone. We are seeing more and more people in or community die of drug overdose when using alone. Some of the recent deaths were among people who had naloxone with them, but no one was present to administer naloxone to reverse the overdose.

We are also concerned by recent situations in which two people have died at the same time after using fentanyl together. When using with others, reduce risk by taking turns: watch and wait before the next person uses. Visit lacedandlethal.com for more info on fentanyl and overdose prevention.

Ways to reduce risk of overdose:

• Avoid using alone: if you overdose, there is no one there to help.
• If you must use alone:
• Use a service like neverusealone.com that will call 911 if you stop responding to a live chat or phone call,
• Have someone check on you often, or
• Use in a place you are more likely to be found by others
• Watch and wait before next person uses.
• Go slow and start with a small amount. Increase slowly.
• Avoid mixing drugs. If you do, use less of each and use one type of drug at a time.
• Know the signs of overdose and how to respond: stopoverdose.org
• Have naloxone accessible. Tell others you have it, where it's located, and how and when to use it.
• Medications to treat opioid addiction, methadone and buprenorphine, significantly reduce risk.
• These medications are available across King County, see warecoveryhelpline.org to find an option close by.

How you can help prevent an overdose death: Tips for Overdose Awareness Day

On this final day of August, we are remembering and mourning those who have lost their lives to fatal drug overdose. And as part of International Overdose Awareness Day, it's a good time learn about the risk of overdose and evidence-based practices and resources that mitigate harm and help to reduce stigma associated with overdose and substance use.

Continue reading from our Public Health Insider blog: kingcounty.gov/overdose/awareness

Increasing trend in fentanyl-involved overdoses in the unstably housed population in King County

Public Health — Seattle & King County has been alerted to an increasing trend in fentanyl-involved overdoses in the unstably housed population.

In both May and July 2021, the King County Medical Examiner's Office identified 10 fatal overdoses involving fentanyl in unstably housed individuals, which is 5 times the amount of fatal fentanyl overdoses seen in the preceding months.

Locally, fentanyl is most commonly found in counterfeit pills. These pills are often blue and marked with "M30" and referred to as "oxys" or "percs." Fentanyl has also been found in white powder drugs and, more rarely, in black tar heroin.

Please share this information widely with colleagues, clients and patients.

Reduce risk of opioid overdose

• Have naloxone ready. You can get naloxone at pharmacies, needle exchanges and other community sites. Find naloxone near you.
• Try not to not use alone. If you must, have someone check on you or use a service like the Brave app or neverusealone.com that can call for help if you stop responding.
• Poster: Look for the signs of an overdose (also available in Spanish).
• If you suspect an overdose, call 911 right away. The Good Samaritan Law protects you and the person overdosing from drug possession charges. More information on the Good Samaritan Law.

Access to treatment

Medications such as methadone and buprenorphine are effective treatments for opioid use disorder. Starting medication for opioid use disorder is now more accessible than ever. People can connect with a provider via phone or online from their own home to get started on buprenorphine. Call the Washington Recovery Helpline for resources at 1-866-789-1511 or www.warecoveryhelpline.org.

Increased fentanyl-related overdose deaths in King County among those living unsheltered

King County has seen an increase of fentanyl-related overdose deaths in recent months amongst individuals living unsheltered or unstably housed. Fentanyl continues to be primarily found in the form of counterfeit blue M-30 pills. Visit www.lacedandlethal.com to learn more about how to prevent overdose and treatment options.

Methamphetamine deaths on the rise in Washington state

Methamphetamine deaths have increased 600% in the last decade in Washington state, with about half of these deaths attributed to meth alone and the other half attributed to meth with an opioid. The biggest risks of methamphetamine overdose (aka overamping) include overheating, heart attacks, strokes, and not breathing.

Be on alert for these danger signs:

• Super fast heart rate
  
• High body temperature (sweating or hot, dry skin)
  
• Really painful headache
  
• Chest pain or tightness
  
• Can't walk or move
  
• Won't wake up
  
• Can't feel arms or legs
  
• Seizure or shaking you can't control

If you see signs of overdose, call 911 right away. The Good Samaritan Law protects you and the victim from prosecution.

Learn more at www.stopoverdose.org. Printable materials with this information are available:

• Flyer: Methamphetamine: Stay Safe, Stay Alive
• Postcard: Meth Overdose: Know When to Get Help

Want to cut down on your meth use or need other help? Contact the Washington Recovery Help Line at 1-866-789-1511.

Sharp rise in fatal overdoses over the past two weeks in King County

Public Health – Seattle & King County is alerting our community about a sharp rise in fatal overdoses over the past two weeks. In the period from Dec. 27, 2020 to Jan. 9, 2021, the King County Medical Examiner’s Office identified 42 suspected or confirmed overdose deaths. Sadly, this two-week period is the highest number of overdoses in a two-week period ever documented in King County. Preliminary testing has found that the majority of the recent overdoses involved multiple types of drugs including 17 fatal overdoses that likely involved methamphetamine and 7 that likely involved fentanyl.

Public Health encourages everyone to be aware of the risks and to share this information throughout our community:

• It is important to have naloxone available to reverse an overdose. Visit stopoverdose.org.
• Do not use alone.
• Avoid pills from the street or online
• If you suspect an overdose, call 911 right away. The Good Samaritan Law protects you and the person overdosing from drug possession charges. More information on the Good Samaritan Law is available.
• Seek treatment for drug use disorder to help stop using drugs – call the Washington Recovery Hotline for treatment resources. 1-866-789-1511.

For more information visit: Alert: Spike in fatal overdoses in our community, Public Health Insider blog, Jan. 14, 2021