DEA:

Drug Poisonings are a leading cause of death for Americans ages 18-45, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC estimates that over 110,000 people in the U.S. died from drug overdoses in 2022, almost 70% of these deaths were caused by fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. 

Like most states across the country, the State of Washington has not been immune to the alarming increase in the availability of fentanyl and overdoses.  In Washington, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) records show that from 2019 to 2022 the amount of fentanyl seized by the DEA in Washington increased by 1670%.  In 2022, the DEA Seattle Field Division seized twice as much fentanyl in Washington as was seized in 2021.