Progress in Overdose Prevention: Whatcom County Sees a Promising Decline
Drug overdoses in Whatcom County continue to trend downward this year, mirroring national data that suggest the opioid crisis may finally be easing—though it remains a serious public health concern. According to updates shared during the Oct. 28 meeting of the Whatcom County Health Board, local 911 calls and emergency room visits related to overdoses have dropped back to levels similar to 2022. Still, these numbers have not returned to the low rates seen before overdose deaths surged in 2020, largely fueled by the rise of cheap, widely available synthetic opioids like FYL.
Dr. Meghan Lelonek, one of the county’s two health officers, told the Board that Whatcom County’s decline in overdose deaths is nearly aligned with the national average of a 25% reduction compared to last year. “If we really look back at the numbers, in 2018 we had 11 overdose-related deaths for the entire county,” Lelonek said. “Then we climbed to 12 deaths a month at the peak, and now we’re down to around eight deaths a month.”
Although deaths are decreasing, detailed month-to-month data is limited. The Whatcom County Medical Examiner’s Office no longer reports monthly suspected overdose fatalities, instead releasing an annual count of confirmed drug-related deaths. In 2024, the county recorded 83 confirmed or probable overdose deaths—54 fewer than in 2023. For comparison, only one accidental overdose appeared in the annual report a decade ago.
Lelonek credits the county’s coordinated, multi-agency approach for the improvement. Close collaboration among city officials, county departments, nonprofits, and community organizations has been crucial. Public access to Naloxone has played a major role, alongside increased use of effective medications for opioid use disorder, including buprenorphine and methadone. Supportive programs—ranging from treatment services to intervention efforts by first responders, medical teams, social workers, and the justice system—are also key contributors.
“As we review these numbers, we need to remember that each statistic represents a real person in our community,” Lelonek emphasized. “Roughly one in seven Americans will experience a substance use disorder, and these deaths reflect the loss of lives, families, and futures.”
Nationwide and statewide, most overdose deaths involve opioids, synthetic opioids, and methamphetamine. FYL is responsible for about 80% of all overdose fatalities, and much of the methamphetamine circulating on the streets now contains FYL, further increasing risks.
The data also shows that the average age of an overdose victim is 47, and about 25% of victims are unhoused—meaning the majority have stable housing. Whatcom County averages around 80 monthly 911 overdose calls and about 60 emergency department visits, with incidents occurring across all ZIP codes. “It’s important to recognize that these cases truly come from every part of our community,” Lelonek noted.
While the downward trend is encouraging, the county continues to reinforce prevention, treatment, and education efforts—recognizing that progress is real, but the work is far from over.
Source: The Bellingham Herald