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Spokane County medical examiner reports continued rise in fentanyl deaths, spike in mid‑age overdose fatalities
Summary
The county medical examiner told commissioners that fentanyl‑involved deaths continued rising in 2024 and into 2025, with increases in mixed‑drug overdoses, suicide among older adults and traffic fatalities; the full annual report will be posted online.
Dr. Singh, Spokane County’s medical examiner, briefed commissioners May 13 on the office’s 2024 annual report, saying fentanyl‑related deaths continued to rise and that multiple‑drug overdoses remain common.
“Fentanyl‑related deaths did continue upward in 2024,” Dr. Singh told the board, and the office is tracking additional pending deaths in 2025. He said the majority of overdose fatalities involve more than one drug, with methamphetamine and cocaine commonly detected alongside fentanyl, and alcohol present in many mixed‑drug deaths.
Key findings from the briefing: • Overdoses: The office reported a year‑over‑year rise in accidental drug deaths (about a 12% increase from 2023 to 2024 and roughly…
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