Facing Fentanyl: Hear the voices of people hurting
May 9, 2023, 9:50 AM | Updated: May 12, 2023, 9:38 am
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 12: A homeless man, 24, smokes fentanyl on March 12, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. Widespread drug addiction is endemic in Seattle's large homeless community, which the city is currently trying to move out from shared public spaces. According to a recent report commissioned by Seattle Councilmember Andrew Lewis, the COVID-19 pandemic put undue pressure on the city's shelter system and delayed funds for new housing, leading to an increase in homelessness. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
(Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
Overdose deaths in Washington state are on track to surpass last year’s death toll. In King County alone, there have been more than 463 deaths so far in 2023, most of which are due to the synthetic drug fentanyl.
KIRO Newsradio is airing a five-part series, “Facing Fentanyl,” to explore where this drug is coming from, why it’s so lethal, as well as the damage it is doing to the people of western Washington.
Listen to Part One of “Facing Fentanyl” here:
More from the Facing Fentanyl series
Part 2, Facing Fentanyl: Addiction in pregnancy ‘ruins multiple lives’
Part 3, Facing Fentanyl: How a synthetic opioid became the deadliest drug in America
Part 4, Facing Fentanyl: Addicts find their way out
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