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Spokane medical examiner says 2024 overdose deaths rose; fentanyl present in most cases
Summary
The county medical examiner briefed commissioners on provisional 2024 overdose data, reporting 346 signed-out overdose deaths for 2024 so far and fentanyl detected in about 78% of accidental overdoses; officials warned that illicitly manufactured fentanyl products are unpredictable and often mixed with other substances.
Dr. Singh, Spokane County medical examiner, briefed the Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 4 with provisional data showing a continued rise in overdose deaths and heavy involvement of illicit fentanyl.
"Using the latest numbers we have for 2024, fentanyl was detected in about 78 percent of of accidental overdoses in 2024," Dr. Singh said, while noting the county has signed out 346 overdose deaths for 2024 as of the briefing and still has additional pending cases. He said overdose cases made up about 30% of the medical examiner's…
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