Fentanyl-Related Deaths in Douglas County Set to Double in 2022

Over the past several years, Douglas County has experienced a concerning trend in the number of drug-induced deaths, with a significant increase in the number of fatalities. Between 2018 and 2021, the number of drug-induced deaths nearly tripled, rising from 12 in 2018 to 30 in 2021. This represents an alarming 150% increase in just three years. In the first half of 2022, there were already 18 drug-induced deaths. A specific area of concern within these overall drug-induced fatalities is the rising number of synthetic opioid-involved deaths, many involving fentanyl. While the numbers were initially lower, with 6 deaths in 2018 and 2 in 2019, there has been a sharp increase in recent years. The number doubled from 4 in 2020 to 11 in 2021, a 175% increase in just one year. Worryingly, there have already been 11 synthetic opioid-involved deaths in the first half of 2022. Fentanyl is exploding on the scene for several reasons. One reason is that it is highly potent, (up to 100 times more potent than morphine), which makes it a highly sought-after drug for people seeking a stronger high. Another reason is that fentanyl is relatively cheap to produce and has a high-profit margin, which makes it attractive to drug dealers and traffickers. Additionally, the opioid epidemic in the United States has contributed to the rise of fentanyl use. Many people who become addicted to prescription opioids may turn to illegal opioids like fentanyl when their prescription runs out or becomes too expensive. Here are the most recent numbers for our area. The rest of 2022's numbers will not be publicly available for another few months, which represents painfully slow reporting by the State of Oregon and Oregon Health Authority. Douglas County all drug-induced deaths 2018 - 12 2019 - 15 2020 - 20 2021 - 30 1st half of 2022 - 18 Douglas County Synthetic Opioid-involved deaths 2018 - 6 2019 - 2 2020- 4 2021 - 11 1st half of 2022 - 11 Here are some commonly asked questions about fentanyl: What is Fentanyl? Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid drug that is up to 100 times more potent than morphine. It is typically used medically to treat severe pain in cancer patients or those who have undergone surgery. However, illegally manufactured fentanyl has become a major contributor to the opioid epidemic in the United States. What are the Dangers of Fentanyl? Fentanyl is incredibly dangerous and can lead to severe health complications, including overdose and death. Even a small amount of the drug can cause respiratory depression, leading to decreased breathing, loss of consciousness, and death. Fentanyl can also cause nausea, confusion, seizures, and hallucinations. Where is the Fentanyl coming from? The majority of illicit fentanyl in the United States is believed to come from China and Mexico. Chinese laboratories have been known to produce large quantities of fentanyl and its analogs, which are then smuggled into the United States through various means, such as postal shipments or through drug trafficking organizations. Mexico is also a major source of illicit fentanyl in the United States. Mexican drug cartels have been known to manufacture fentanyl in clandestine laboratories and transport it across the border. Fentanyl is often mixed with other drugs like heroin or cocaine, and these mixtures are frequently trafficked into the United States. How is Fentanyl Used? Fentanyl can be taken in several forms, including pills, powder, or patches, but the most common way people use fentanyl illegally is by snorting, smoking, or injecting it. Due to its potency, even a small amount of fentanyl can cause an overdose, and the drug is often cut with other substances, making it even more dangerous. What drugs is fentanyl being found in? 1. Counterfeit prescription pain pills: Fentanyl has been found in counterfeit versions of prescription pain medications such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and Percocet. These fake pills are often manufactured to resemble the appearance of legitimate prescription drugs, making it difficult for users to distinguish between the two. 2. Heroin: Fentanyl has been increasingly found in batches of heroin, sometimes replacing the drug entirely. This has contributed to a rise in overdose deaths, as users may unknowingly consume a much more potent substance than they are used to. 3. Cocaine: Fentanyl has also been detected in samples of cocaine. This can be particularly dangerous for users who are not opioid-tolerant, as they may be at an increased risk of overdose. 4. Methamphetamine: There have been reports of fentanyl being mixed with methamphetamine, a potent stimulant. The combination of these two powerful drugs can be extremely dangerous and increase the risk of overdose. 5. MDMA (Ecstasy/Molly): Fentanyl has occasionally been found in MDMA, a synthetic psychoactive drug with stimulant and hallucinogenic effects. Mixing fentanyl with MDMA can lead to dangerous side effects and increase the risk of an overdose. 6. Synthetic cannabinoids (e.g., Spice, K2): Though less common, fentanyl has been detected in some synthetic cannabinoid products, which are designed to mimic the effects of cannabis. How can someone identify fentanyl? You can't see, smell, or taste fentanyl: Fentanyl is odorless, tasteless, and colorless, which means you can't tell if it's in a drug just by looking at it or tasting it. This makes it incredibly dangerous because you might not know you're taking it until it's too late. There are fentanyl test strips that exist to check for the presence of fentanyl in drugs, however, they are not perfect and a false negative can have serious consequences. What is Naloxone? Naloxone is a medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, including prescription opioids, heroin, and fentanyl. Naloxone works by blocking the effects of opioids on the brain and can help restore normal breathing and prevent death from overdose. Why are we just now reporting on this data? Oregon Health Authority still has not released the final data for 2022 and will not do so for at least a few more months. This is woefully inadequate. The public, health officials, schools and politicians are in the process of making a threat assessments based on data from a year ago even as the overdose crisis grows significantly worse each year. It’s like making driving decisions while looking in the rearview mirror. During covid, deaths were reported daily, weekly and monthly and revised if necessary. How is not possible to do the same as we navigate the current overdose crisis? The age and sex and partial health history of people that died while they had covid was released to the public almost immediately. Let’s be consistent with our transparency and do the same with overdoses so the public can see the reality of the situation. A great resource, especially for young people and schools is a non-profit called Song For Charley. They are doing great work educating people about the danger of fentanyl and fake pills made of fentanyl. https://www.songforcharlie.org/ This is also a very powerful story about some students in Beaverton who overdosed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkmMLR4nbkY&t=320s