Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell Signs Legislation to Address Fentanyl Epidemic

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has released a statement regarding the City Council's vote to address the deadly fentanyl and synthetic drug epidemic in the city. Harrell emphasized the need for urgency and innovative solutions to combat the crisis, which has tragically claimed thousands of lives in Seattle and around the country. The legislation aims to make public consumption of illegal drugs a gross misdemeanor and designate diversion and treatment as the preferred approach to addressing substance use issues.

Key Takeaways:

• The legislation codifies state law making public consumption of illegal drugs a gross misdemeanor in the City's criminal code.
• For the first time in the City's history, the legislation designates diversion and treatment as the preferred approach to addressing substance use issues, connecting people with care and responding to a public health crisis with evidence-based health solutions.
• The ordinance defines a new threat of harm standard, differentiating between drug use that threatens others, recognizing the real and perceived danger of consumption of illegal drugs in public places.
• The legislation complements ongoing public health and safety priorities advanced by the City to address the fentanyl and synthetic drug crisis.
• Mayor Harrell's office has initiated an innovative contingency management drug abatement program in cooperation with Plymouth Housing and developed the Fentanyl Task Force to improve how the criminal legal system interacts with individuals suffering from opioid use disorders.
• The City has also invested $7 million in capital funds toward facilities that would provide post-overdose diversion, treatment, and medical care.
• In April, the Mayor issued an Executive Order advancing new public health strategies and law enforcement focuses related to fentanyl and synthetic drugs.

Statistics:

• As of September 18, there have been 761 overdose deaths in King County involving fentanyl, putting the region on track to set a tragic new record of fatal overdoses per year.
• The legislation aims to provide training and guidance to the police department on implementation, as well as metrics to track progress.

Sources:

• "Mayor Bruce Harrell Releases Statement on City Council Vote" (Office of the Mayor of Seattle)
• Public Health -- Seattle and King County
• Executive Order advancing new public health strategies and law enforcement focuses related to fentanyl and synthetic drugs (Mayor's Office)
• Funding expanded mobile medication delivery for opioid use disorders (City of Seattle)
• Allocating ongoing funding to harm reduction providers (City of Seattle)
• Initiating an innovative contingency management drug abatement program in cooperation with Plymouth Housing (Mayor's Office)