Overdose, suicide, homicides near record highs according to report from Medical Examiners office

Homicides reached a high last year with 131 in 2021, the second time it has reached triple digits, according to the King County Medical Examiner’s (KCMEO) annual report. In 2020, there were 125 homicides.

Overdose deaths are also above regional averages, with 523 deaths in 2021 already overtaking the amount of overdose deaths in 2020. Fentanyl and methamphetamine have been cited as the most common overdose drugs.

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According to the new report, in 2021, 365 people overdosed on methamphetamine and 385 people overdosed on fentanyl, with fentanyl overtaking methamphetamine usage for the first time.

Suicides are also significantly higher, with 268 suicide deaths in 2020 and 331 in 2021.

KCMEO released its annual report on deaths in the area, bringing new light to how people die in the county in 2021. KCMEO – which investigates sudden, unexpected, violent, suspicious, and unnatural deaths – has released a yearly report since 2006.

The complete report can be found at kingcounty.gov.

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