Snohomish County Human Services Opioid Outreach Specialist Amy Wheat talks about Narcan on Tuesday, at the Everett Public Library Evergreen Branch in Everett. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Snohomish County Human Services Opioid Outreach Specialist Amy Wheat talks about Narcan on Tuesday, at the Everett Public Library Evergreen Branch in Everett. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

‘We cannot help people if they are not alive’

Everett libraries and Snohomish County have partnered to train people on how to use naloxone, in an effort to reverse overdoses.

EVERETT — On Tuesday evening, eight community members learned how to save lives by using naloxone. It was the third such training at an Everett Public Library since last year.

As of September, 140 people in the county had died from an opioid overdose in 2022.

Naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan, can quickly restore normal breathing to a person who has overdosed on an opioid medication or a synthetic opioid like fentanyl. It acts by temporarily blocking the opioid receptors in the brain.

Opioids include fentanyl, heroin, oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine and morphine.

Amy Wheat, opioid outreach specialist for Snohomish County, delivered the training. She has been doing similar presentations for law enforcement, community organizations and members for about five years.

“It’s important for the community to have the knowledge of, really, what’s going on,” Wheat said.

People with substance use disorders or unhoused people bear the stigma of overdose, but over half of opioid overdoses in Snohomish County happen in a private home. About one-third happen in a public place, according to data from the county.

It can happen to anyone. Children might mistake pills for candy. Adults might use their own prescription pain medicine incorrectly or misuse someone else’s. And folks using drugs recreationally could unknowingly take something laced with a strong dose of fentanyl, Wheat said.

Overdose deaths from opioids have increased in Snohomish County in every year from 2017 to 2021. In the past several years, fentanyl has been the major contributor to those deaths.

Snohomish County has typically had a high rate of overdose deaths, relative to other counties in the state.

Local use of naloxone has been increasing, at least for those folks who end up in the emergency departments at Providence Everett and Swedish Edmonds hospitals. Over 75% of patients experiencing an opioid overdose have already received naloxone when they arrive, and about one in five received it from a friend, family member or bystander, according to county data.

Anyone in Washington can buy naloxone, without a prescription, because of a “standing order” from the state Department of Health. It is sold as a nasal spray or injection, and can safely be used for people of all ages.

Medicaid will pay for a box of two nasal sprays, and many insurance plans will cover at least part of the $120 to $165 retail price. The People’s Harm Reduction Alliance will also mail it for free.

According to Wheat, it can only help people experiencing an overdose of any kind — naloxone will not hurt them. But everyone should know when and how to use it safely.

Pharmacist Shawnett Stenberg, of Monroe, thought the training was “very good.” She came because she wanted to find out, as a provider, how to get more involved, perhaps even training others in her community.

“It’s something that I’m passionate about,” she said, “and I just wanted to find out how I can help my patients the best,” she said.

Abigail Cooley, director of the Everett Public Library, said the trainings meet a mission to inform and educate the community about timely and relevant issues in Everett. The library will partner with Snohomish County to deliver quarterly trainings in the coming year.

Wheat also helps people with substance use disorders find resources and support.

“We cannot help people if they are not alive,” she said. “I couldn’t stay in this job if there were no successes.”

A box of Narcan is seen Tuesday at the Everett Public Library Evergreen Branch in Everett. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

A box of Narcan is seen Tuesday at the Everett Public Library Evergreen Branch in Everett. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Resources

Check the Everett library calendar, epls.org, the county, snohomishoverdoseprevention.com, and South County Fire, www.southsnofire.org, for individual or group trainings on naloxone.

CDC resources on naloxone: cdc.gov/opioids/naloxone

Free naloxone by mail: phra.org/mail-order-naloxone

For treatment and support for those with substance use disorders: snohomishoverdoseprevention.com/find-treatment-or-support/

Joy Borkholder is the health and wellness reporter for The Daily Herald. Her work is supported by the Health Reporting Initiative, which is sponsored in part by Premera Blue Cross. The Daily Herald maintains editorial control over content produced through this initiative.

Joy Borkholder: 425-339-3430; joy.borkholder@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @jlbinvestigates.

Talk to us

More in Local News

FILE - A sign hangs at a Taco Bell on May 23, 2014, in Mount Lebanon, Pa. Declaring a mission to liberate "Taco Tuesday" for all, Taco Bell asked U.S. regulators Tuesday, May 16, 2023, to force Wyoming-based Taco John's to abandon its longstanding claim to the trademark. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
Hepatitis A confirmed in Taco Bell worker in Everett, Lake Stevens

The health department sent out a public alert for diners at two Taco Bells on May 22 or 23.

VOLLI’s Director of Food & Beverage Kevin Aiello outside of the business on Friday, May 19, 2023 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coming soon to Marysville: indoor pickleball, games, drinks

“We’re very confident this will be not just a hit, but a smash hit,” says co-owner Allan Jones, who is in the fun industry.

Everett
Detectives: Unresponsive baby was exposed to fentanyl at Everett hotel

An 11-month-old boy lost consciousness Tuesday afternoon. Later, the infant and a twin sibling both tested positive for fentanyl.

Cassie Franklin (left) and Nick Harper (right)
Report: No wrongdoing in Everett mayor’s romance with deputy mayor

An attorney hired by the city found no misuse of public funds. Texts between the two last year, however, were not saved on their personal phones.

Firearm discovered by TSA officers at Paine Field Thursday morning, May 11, 2023, during routine X-ray screening at the security checkpoint. (Transportation Security Administration)
3 guns caught by TSA at Paine Field this month — all loaded

Simple travel advice: Unpack before you pack to make sure there’s not a gun in your carry-on.

Heavy traffic northbound on 1-5 in Everett, Washington on August 31, 2022.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
To beat the rush this Memorial Day weekend, go early or late

AAA projects busy airports, ferries and roads over the holiday weekend this year, though still below pre-pandemic counts.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Troopers: DUI crash leaves 1 in critical condition in Maltby

A drunken driver, 34, was arrested after her pickup rear-ended another truck late Tuesday, injuring a Snohomish man, 28.

Housing Hope CEO Donna Moulton raises her hand in celebration of the groundbreaking of the Housing Hope Madrona Highlands on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
$30M affordable housing project to start construction soon in Edmonds

Once built, dozens of families who are either homeless or in poverty will move in and receive social and work services.

A south-facing view of the proposed site for a new mental health facility on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, near 300th Street NW and 80th Avenue NW north of Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County Council OK’s Stanwood behavioral health center

After an unsuccessful appeal to block it, the Tulalip Tribes are now on the cusp of building the 32-bed center in farmland.

Most Read