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County overdose dashboard: EMS reports more bystander Narcan before EMS arrival; three‑month average stabilizes around three suspected OD responses
Summary
EMS and public health staff presented monthly overdose statistics showing a three‑month moving average near three suspected overdoses per period, high rates of bystander Narcan administration, and continued emphasis on bridging resuscitated patients into treatment.
Mike Kelly presented Whatcom County’s latest overdose response data to the committee on May 20, showing a three‑month average that the presenter said moved from 3.4 down to about 3 and that county trends largely mirror statewide patterns.
Why it matters: the statistics inform outreach, Narcan distribution and treatment bridge planning for overdose survivors.
Kelly described multiple indicators: overdoses by month dating to 2022, year‑over‑year comparisons, emergency department overdose visits (he cited roughly 75–80 ED visits through March), and confirmed overdose deaths compiled from the medical examiner’s toxicology results. He highlighted that a majority of naloxone (Narcan) administrations are occurring before EMS arrival, noting a figure of about “59% prior to” EMS (the presentation also referenced ~61% in related slides). Kelly said bystander administration reflects the county’s naloxone distribution and outreach efforts and is saving lives.
Committee members discussed next steps to convert resuscitations into treatment opportunities. Kelly and others noted field buprenorphine inductions and EMS‑initiated MAT as promising developments; Kelly said the next outreach focus should be messaging that survivors who receive Narcan can be connected quickly to treatment—“we have a life saving drug in their hands, Narcan… But the next step is that you're in precipitous withdrawal that’s gonna keep you sick. So, how can we message… that we have a treatment in the emergency department or at the (clinic) to bridge you into?”
Ending: the committee heard additional data packages in its materials (including King County Medical Examiner reports) and agreed overdose metrics should guide outreach, Narcan distribution and bridging strategies as local MAT capacity expands.
