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  1. Public Health — Seattle & King County
  2. Overdose prevention and response

Overdose prevention and response

Public Health is addressing the opioid epidemic as we would any other health issue—working with partners to prevent overdoses, increasing access to treatment, and providing harm reduction services to reduce the health impacts for people with substance use disorder.


Public Health is closely monitoring an increase in overdose deaths linked to fentanyl in pills and powders. See fentanyl educational materials for schools and community below:

  • Overdose prevention resourcesKing County Secure Medicine Return
    King County residents can safely dispose of the medicines they no longer need by taking them to a drop-box located throughout King County.

  • Opioid Medication & Pain: What You Need to Know(PDF)
    Opioids can be the right choice for treating severe pain, such as from cancer or immediately after major surgery. However, medications such as Vicodin, Percocet and OxyContin are very powerful and can be deadly.
  • Medication-assisted treatment for opioid disordersFind medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorder
    A resource locator to find local clinics and programs that use evidence-based treatments to treat opioid use disorder.

  • Find withdrawal management (detox) services
    Detox is a medically supervised service with the goal of safely ensuring that people are stable coming off of alcohol or drug and then transitioning them on to the appropriate ongoing care. Detox length of stay is based on medical necessity, but usually lasts three to five days.

  • Buprenorphine fact sheet
    Buprenorphine (bupe) is a prescribed medicine that is used to treat addiction to heroin and other opiates. It treats withdrawal and reduces craving.
  • King County Needle Exchange
    Needle exchange programs provide new, sterile syringes and clean injection equipment in exchange for used, contaminated syringes. They also get drug users into drug treatment and health care.
  • Narcan nasal sprayFind naloxone in Washington state
    There are several ways to get naloxone in Washington state through prescriptions, directly through pharmacies and syringe exchange and community programs.

  • Emergency Dept. Naloxone Distribution
    The first steps to setting up a community overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) program is to understand the local policies and regulations about standing orders, third party prescribing, collaborative practice agreements, Good Samaritan laws, and provider medication distribution.

  • Naloxone prescribing practice guidelines
    Information for clinicians and pharmacists to identify who should get naloxone, how to recognize and respond to an overdose and other recommendations.
  • Non-fatal overdose dashboard
    This dashboard presents information about probable opioid overdoses treated by King County Emergency Medical Services agencies and Emergency Departments.
  • Operation Prevention, DEA and Discovery Education – an educational program for young people ages 8-18 to prevent opioid misuse. Materials include classroom resources and a parent toolkit, with resources available in both English and Spanish.

  • The Good Samaritan Law, Center for Opioid Safety Education – overview of the legal protections in Washington State for overdose victims and responders.

  • National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens, National Institute on Drug Abuse – resources for teens, teachers, and parents about drug use, addiction, and treatment.

  • Fentanyl warning for parents and students, Public Health – Seattle & King County – a letter for schools to send out to students and parents about the recent increase in overdose deaths in King County due to fentanyl.

  • Opioid prescribing rules
    The Washington State Legislature passed a law in 2017 that focuses on improving opioid prescribing. and on monitoring. The law requires five healthcare professional boards and commissions to adopt new rules for prescribing opioid drugs.
  • Patient Pain Management Resources
    The Guideline is not intended to deny any patients who suffer with chronic pain from opioid therapy as an option for pain management. Rather, the Guideline is intended to ensure that clinicians and patients consider all safe and effective treatment options for patients.

  • SAMSHA
    The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.
  • Washington Recovery Help Line
    Find treatment services nearest you and speak with professionals about getting help with substance use, problem gambling, and/or mental health challenge.

  • Get the facts, Washington Health Care Authority
    Find out why opioids are so addictive, and where you can go for help.

  • stopoverdose.org, Center for Opioid Safety Education
    The Center for Opioid Safety Education at the University of Washington Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute offers education and technical assistance for individuals, professionals, and communities in Washington State who want to learn how to prevent and intervene in opioid addiction and overdose.

  • Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, King County Dept. of Community and Human Services
    Ensuring that people with mental health and substance use disorders receive the inpatient, outpatient and other services they need.

  • Washington State Department of Health: Opioids
    Implementing the State Opioid Response Plan and provides resources for providers and researchers

  • Washington State Poison Center
    Provides immediate, free, and expert treatment advice and assistance on the telephone in case of exposure to poisonous, hazardous, or toxic substances.

  • Hepatitis C facts, Public Health — Seattle & King County
    Includes a description about Hepatitis C with resources for the general public and health care providers.

Overdose prevention blogs

Overdose update: Recent increase in overdoses deaths linked to fentanyl-laced pills and powders

Actualización acerca de las sobredosis: Reciente aumento en las muertes por sobredosis relacionadas con las píldoras y polvos que contienen fentanilo

Most recent overdose data released: 2018 data show most overdose deaths involve multiple drugs

An update on the increased HIV risk among people who inject drugs in King County

A behind the scenes look at buprenorphine ‘treatment on demand’

2018 Overdose Death Report

2018 Overdose Death Report

Describes drug and alcohol-caused deaths investigated by the King County Medical Examiner's Office.

PRINTABLE INFOGRAPHICS AND HANDOUTS

Fake vs. Real Pills

Don't be faked out.

Order printed copies* of
"Don't be faked out"

Narcan Saves Lives

Narcan saves lives

Order printed copies* of
"Narcan saves lives"

2-sided postcards featuring "Don't be faked out" and "Narcan saves lives".

Postcard file fits most standard 2x2 postcard templates for printing front and back.

*Limited only to organizations serving King County, WA residents

 

Fentanyl warning poster and postcards

Order printed copies of "Fentanyl is Killing King County Residents"

Fentanyl warning infographic

Medication-disposal downloadable content

Medication-disposal infographics

Heroin and opioid trends

Heroin and Prescription Opiate Addiction Task Force infographics

Washington Recovery Help Line flyer

Washington Recovery Help Line

Heroin and Prescription Opiate Addiction Task Force 2018 Year End Summary

Heroin and Prescription Opiate Addiction Task Force 2018 Year End Summary

Opioids and older adults

Opioids and older adults

Overdose prevention and response blogs
Link/share our site at www.kingcounty.gov/overdose