Drug crisis: Officials look for ways to combat opioid epidemic

Medical providers and health officials in Grant County say they are concerned about the ongoing opioid epidemic as they try to help those facing addiction get clean and avoid overdoses.

“What we know is that there is a significant issue (with opioids) in the central Washington region,” said Samaritan Healthcare Chief Medical Officer Andrea Carter.

According to the Washington State Department of Health, statewide opioid deaths have risen by 388% since 2010.

Dell Anderson, executive director at Renew, which oversees behavioral health for Grant County, said there are multiple factors in the increase in opioid addictions and overdoses. Drugs such as methamphetamine are now often laced with fentanyl – a pain management drug that can cause death from respiratory failure when taken in high doses. And mixing of various medications leads to addiction and overdoses.

“I’m also not convinced that people think they’re purchasing one thing, but they’re getting an entirely different drug, especially with things being fentanyl-laced,” Anderson said.

The 2021-22 Washington State Opioid and Overdose Response Plan says there is an increasing problem with an increase in fentanyl-laced narcotics. The state looks at the opioid epidemic as a three-wave situation. The first wave occurred in 1999-2000, when the rate of overdose deaths involving prescription opioids increased. The second was in 2010, with overdoses caused by heroin, an opioid made from morphine, while the most recent wave began in 2016, with increasing overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl.

Data from the Washington State Health Care Authority backs up the statement on increases in fentanyl-laced narcotics. In 1999, data indicates fewer than one person died per 100,000 Washingtonians. That number increased to nearly four deaths per 100,000 in 2018, the most recent year for which data is available.

The state’s Opioid and Overdose Response Plan says this trend is especially concerning among adolescents who use drugs recreationally and may be unaware they’ve been sold fentanyl or a similar drug.

“There is growing concern of fentanyl-related overdoses among adolescents taking counterfeit prescription pills,” the plan says.

Carter said the battle against opioids is ongoing. Since 2017, she said, the state and health care providers have been working to educate the public, especially patients managing chronic pain, regarding the use of narcotic painkillers.

“The problem is we were left with a residual from the ’80s, when it was declared that pain was the fifth vital sign and we had to manage it,” Carter said. “And so, what you were left with was a population of patients that felt strongly that they had pain, and they deserve to have it taken care of, which they do.”

Additionally, Carter said, the opioid epidemic also involves a patient population that has been told for decades that opioids weren’t that harmful. However, opiate-based painkillers are highly addictive, and while they can greatly reduce or even eliminate pain, they are not the only option. Carter said less-addictive pharmaceuticals and therapies can help manage pain and preserve a patient’s quality of life, without the risk of addiction.

Providers have been given guidance at the state level, which includes a rule on when and how to issue prescriptions for opioids, Carter said. Additionally, many clinics are taking steps to ensure those who are at risk of addiction and overdose are prepared.

“We make prescription of Narcan part of the process, right. So, you might get some oxycodone, but you’re going to get the Narcan prescription with the oxycodone and education on how and when to use it,” Carter said.

Narcan is a brand name version of the anti-overdose drug naloxone, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the manufacturer’s website, it is usually administered as a nasal mist and works almost instantly to counteract other narcotics.

First responders often have some form of naloxone on hand when out in the field. Grant County Sheriff’s Office deputies began carrying the anti-overdose medication in 2017, said GCSO spokesperson Kyle Foreman.

“With the prevalence of opioids in our communities, it became clear early on that equipping deputies with naloxone would save lives. Many times, deputies arrive at incidents prior to EMTs and can give naloxone sooner,” Foreman said.

Deputies receive training on how to recognize the signs of an overdose to ensure they apply the medication properly and only when needed, he said.

U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-WA, who represents the state’s 4th Congressional District, is sponsoring a bill that would provide grants to rural communities like those in Grant and Adams counties. In a Thursday press release, Newhouse said he visited with law enforcement recently and was concerned about the increases in overdoses related to drugs such as fentanyl. Through the grants, he is hopeful the problem will be mitigated through broader participation by law enforcement officers in naloxone programs.

Even with expanded access to naloxone, treatment for opioid addiction is vital, Carter said. However, resources for addiction recovery are much less than what’s needed.

“If you want to do an adequate substance use disorder treatment, you’re going to have the behavioral health facilities to help you with that portion of that treatment, because it’s an important part of the treatment, you’re going to have to have detox facilities,” Carter said. “We just don’t have those things.”

Anderson said local agencies, such as Renew and HopeSource, a nonprofit that helps those facing homelessness, are working to expand options. Renew recently signed a contract with an online behavioral health provider and has established Narcan vending machines to help those facing addiction disorders have intervention measures available.

“I think we’re taking steps to become more aware and what we can do, and how to help people and making Narcan especially accessible for the general community. I think there just needs to be more work done on treatment options and how best to help individuals who are dealing with this because it’s a rampant problem,” Anderson said.

As the opioid epidemic continues to take the lives of area residents, officials said they will continue to work toward improving access to treatment, prevention and overdose intervention.

“The health and safety of our citizens is paramount to our success,” said Moses Lake Police Department Chief Kevin Fuhr. “Members of the law enforcement profession are well trained and prepared to help those in need, and having the ability to deploy naloxone during critical incidents has and will continue to save lives of citizens across this country.”