How Seattle King County Public Health is Tackling the Opioid Epidemic

The Opioid Epidemic in Seattle King County

Seattle King County has recently become the center of the opioid crisis in the Pacific Northwest. In 2017 alone, more than 330 people died due to opioid-related overdoses, highlighting a harsh reality for public health officials. With more than 2.1 million residents, Seattle King County has had to take drastic measures to address this epidemic. This article will examine how Seattle King County Public Health (SKCPH) is addressing this crisis and the steps they are taking to save lives.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Opioid Addiction

One of the biggest challenges in addressing the opioid epidemic is recognizing when an individual is in need of help. Opioid addiction can be difficult to identify, with some people experiencing few to no symptoms until it’s too late. SKCPH has implemented a variety of strategies to help identify patients who are at higher risk of developing opioid addiction. Healthcare providers in the county now use the Washington State Prescription Monitoring Program to track prescription drug adherence, identify potential high-risk opioid users, and intervene earlier.

Increasing Access to Naloxone

Naloxone is a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses if administered in time, but it must be administered quickly to be effective. SKCPH has been dispersing naloxone through various channels, including providing it to law enforcement agencies, healthcare providers and patients approved for the medication. And, in 2018, the county’s public needle exchange programs distributed more than 65,000 units of naloxone to eligible clients throughout the region.

Creating Community Response Teams

Seattle King County Public Health has implemented Community Response Teams (CRTs) composed of community members, healthcare providers, social workers and law enforcement agencies to creatively address the opioid epidemic. The CRTs develop communications campaigns for the public, work on developing addiction treatment programs, and more. The Seattle Police Department even created a LEAD (Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion) Program, where police divert individuals who have been arrested for drug possession/sale offenses into a particular program to help treat their addiction and avoid future criminal charges.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Seattle King County Public Health is taking important steps to combat the opioid epidemic in the Pacific Northwest. Healthcare providers, law enforcement agencies and local residents are all involved in collaborative efforts to increase access to naloxone, recognize the symptoms of addiction, and create community response teams to address the crisis. Through a coordinated effort, the county will likely succeed in bringing a measure of clarity and understanding to the problem of opioid addiction, and ultimately lead to fewer lives lost to overdose.

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