Title
A MOTION requesting the executive create a report on fatal and nonfatal overdoses in King County owned, operated or funded housing and homelessness facilities.
Body
WHEREAS, according to data collected by public health - Seattle & King County in 2022, in King County, there were 794 overdose deaths due to opioids, 705 of those due to fentanyl and 523 due to methamphetamine, and
WHEREAS, in King County, there has been a 47 percent increase in opioid related overdose deaths in 2022 compared to 2021, and
WHEREAS, in King County, there has been over an 83 percent increase in fentanyl related overdose deaths in 2022 compared to 2021, and
WHEREAS, in King County, there has been over a 43 percent increase in methamphetamine related overdose deaths compared to 2021, and
WHEREAS, according to public health - Seattle & King County’s 2022 overdose death report, overdose deaths disproportionally affect the American Indian and Alaskan Native and the Black population at a significantly higher rate in King County compared to other population groups, and
WHEREAS, in King County, as reported by the Seattle Times, 179 people died of overdoses in 2022 who were presumed to be living in permanent supportive housing, income-restricted units, transitional housing and recovery housing, and
WHEREAS, further reported by the Seattle Times, 21 percent of all King County fatal overdoses in 2022 are presumed to be individuals who were living unsheltered, and
WHEREAS, in 2022 there were 1,009 overdose deaths in King County, and
WHEREAS, of the confirmed overdose deaths in 2022, there has been over an 97 percent increase in overdose deaths in King County compared to the previous 4-year average, and
WHEREAS, in 2022 overdose deaths in Seattle and south King County made up over 86 percent of all overdose deaths in King County, and
WHEREAS, King County only collects data on nonfatal overdoses through the King County emergency medical services ("KCEMS"), and
WHEREAS, in 2022, King County has recorded 5,835 nonfatal overdoses that were treated by KCEMS, and
WHEREAS, nonfatal overdoses treated by KCEMS in 2022 have increased over 57 percent compared to 2021 and over 93 percent compared to 2020, and
WHEREAS, in 2022, the council declared fentanyl a public health crisis through Motion 16173;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
A. The council requests the executive create a report on fatal and nonfatal overdoses occurring in King County owned, operated or funded housing and homelessness facilities in order to increase transparency and assess ways to decrease the rate of overdoses within those facilities. The report should include at least the following components:
1. Data on past fatal and nonfatal overdoses that have happened within emergency shelters, permanent supportive housing facilities and other housing or homelessness facilities owned, operated or funded by King County. The data should include the number of confirmed and suspected fatal and nonfatal overdoses in these facilities by year and the substance with which the overdose occurred;
2. Data on past fatal and nonfatal overdoses at housing or homelessness facilities that are part of the health through housing initiative and the King County Regional Homelessness Authority. The data should include the number of confirmed and suspected fatal and nonfatal overdoses in these facilities by year and the substance with which the overdose occurred. The executive should work with the King County Regional Homelessness Authority when gathering the data;
3. A feasibility analysis of adding a section to public health - Seattle & King County's King County Fatal Overdose Dashboard detailing past and future fatal and nonfatal overdoses that happen within housing and homelessness facilities owned, operated or funded by King County;
4. A summary of current work being done to address and prevent overdoses at King County owned, operated or funded housing and homelessness facilities; and
5. Recommendations on how the county can reduce the number of fatal and nonfatal overdoses in King County owned, operated or funded housing and homelessness facilities, including, but not limited to, the feasibility of designating more King County operated and funded facilities as sober living facilities.
B. The executive should electronically file the report requested by this motion no later than January 1, 2024, with the clerk of the council, who shall retain the original and provide an electronic copy to all councilmembers, the council chief of staff, the chief policy officer and the lead staff for the law, justice, health and human services committee, or its successor. The assessment report should be accompanied by a proposed motion that should acknowledge receipt of the assessment report.