According to the Washington State Department of Health, the number of suspected opioid overdoses among children and adolescents has fallen significantly, approaching prepandemic levels. Compared with the 2023 peak, overdoses have declined by 62%, while opioid-related emergency department visits have dropped by 52%. In 2024, 12 children died from opioids, compared with 31 in 2022.
In King County, the share of teenagers reporting alcohol, marijuana, prescription painkiller or illicit drug use fell from 14% in 2023 to 11% last year. Health care providers attribute the improvement to widespread awareness of the dangers of fentanyl and expanded access to treatment. Buprenorphine is now prescribed more frequently in hospitals and through a dedicated telephone hotline.
Vending machines installed in public places throughout King County also play a role. They provide free naloxone nasal spray, generally without a prescription or identification, for emergency treatment of an opioid overdose, as well as test strips that can detect the possible presence of fentanyl. If an overdose is suspected, naloxone should be administered while calling 911. Test strips can indicate the possible presence of fentanyl but do not guarantee that a substance is safe.
Several years ago, the system serving teenagers was largely unable to cope with the crisis: fewer than 10% of facilities offered buprenorphine, there were almost no adolescent detoxification beds, and many pediatricians did not recognize opioid use disorder. Today, prevention programs receive funding from opioid settlement funds and King County’s Best Starts for Kids initiative.
The program serves children, adolescents and young adults from early childhood through age 24. It is funded primarily through a special county property tax, with money directed to schools, health care providers and community organizations. These organizations support substance-use prevention, mental health programs, early identification of problems, counseling, treatment and assistance for families. Best Starts for Kids generally does not pay for services directly for individual teenagers; instead, it funds organizations that provide help free of charge or based on family income.
Doctors and counselors consider the current trend encouraging but warn that declining numbers do not mean the problem has been solved. Teenagers have become more cautious about fentanyl, but many young people who began using drugs during the earlier wave of overdoses already have severe addictions. Experts urge officials to maintain continuous monitoring of the drug market, regularly screen for addiction and remain prepared for new threats.
Based on: Youth opioid overdoses in WA drop toward prepandemic low