Three fatal overdoses on the same day have prompted county officials to remind residents of the dangers of fentanyl and non-prescription pills. The three deaths all happened around the border of south Renton and Kent, and within the same morning, Thursday, Feb. 6.
On Friday, Feb. 7 the King County Medical Examiner’s office confirmed one of the deaths as a 26-year-old Renton resident Krazz-lee Adrien, who suffered from accidental acute combined drug intoxication of fentanyl and benzodiazepine.
The deaths caused particular concern, according to a post from Public Health – Seattle King County. Fentanyl-related deaths continue to rise in the county. Most commonly illicit fentanyl has been found in counterfeit percocet and oxycodone pills. But Public Health officials warn that fentanyl could be present in any illicit drug and any form, which cannot be seen, smelt or tasted and can vary in street drugs, even within the same batch.
On Friday Renton Police Department posted on Facebook about one of the deaths. They state that officers were called to a possible overdose to find one deceased person, and a toxicology report found “high levels of fentanyl,” and featured the same chemical makeup as the other two overdoses.
Police were told, according to the post, that the victim has been purchasing percocet off the street for pain management.
The laced drugs were a reminder of the dangers of street drugs, and Renton police warned community members to look out for each other.
“Do you have a family member who is addicted to pain killers? Are you a teen who knows of someone who is about to try a street drug (prescription or otherwise) for the first time? Please help spread the word about the ongoing dangers of the fentanyl laced drugs and help keep family, friends and community members safe,” the post read.
These deaths were three of the 47 probable or confirmed drug overdose deaths to happen so far in King County for 2020, according to the King County Fatal Overdose Dashboard. In 2019, there were 428 overdose deaths, with 19 unconfirmed.
Public Health also asked that the following information about overdose safety be shared throughout the county:
• Any Fentanyl can be fatal, folks should not take pills that aren’t prescribed to them.
• Have naloxone ready for a potential overdose (available naloxone can be found at stopoverdose.org/section/find-naloxone-near-you.)
• Do not use drugs alone.
• Suspected overdoses should be called in to 911 immediately. The Good Samaritan Law protects those involved from drug posession charges.
• Drug use disorder treatment resources are available at 1-866-789-1511 or warecoveryhelpline.org.
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In Spring 2019, Aaron Kunkler reported on the continued rise of overdose deaths in King County.
