YAKIMA, WA – An emergency physician and medical director at a central Washington hospital issued a powerful letter calling for unity and action in the face of the ongoing Fentanyl crisis in the Pacific Northwest. This comes just days after the state of Oregon declared a state of emergency regarding the drug crisis. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine.
Dr. Raul Garcia works at Astria Toppenish Hospital and sees the tragic consequences of fentanyl addiction firsthand. He writes with the combined voice of a concerned citizen and a seasoned medical professional, warning against dismissing the dangers of “trace amounts” of fentanyl on public transportation, emphasizing its potency compared to other opioids, and its rapid emergence as a major public health crisis.
“Current statistics say that nearly everyone reading this right now will have had addiction affect them in some way,” Dr. Garcia writes. “The time for hiding the effects of addiction and leaving this disease unaddressed in the public square is long past.”
He calls for “sweeping and bold change” to tackle it and expresses particular concern about the potential health risks of secondhand fentanyl exposure for transit workers and emergency department staff.
“Our hospital has a special ‘Code Orange Odor’ to warn staff of a hazardous situation involving fentanyl,” Dr. Garcia reveals, highlighting the pervasiveness of the drug and its potential to harm even those seeking help.
The letter underscores the need for decisive action to address the crisis.
“Addressing the disease of addiction and tackling the opioid crisis is bigger than you, me, or any one person,” Dr. Garcia concludes. “It will take a community that decides to lift our neighbors up and address this multifaceted crisis once and for all.”
NOTE: Photo is courtesy of the DEA; Over 161,000 Fentanyl pills along with other illegal drugs were found during a series of drug busts in northeast Washington State nearly a year ago. You can read that story HERE.
