Thanks for the tip. Police on the scene at the Fauntleroy/Alaska Shell station confirm that a man died there tonight. Just before 8:30 pm, SFD and SPD were called there for a report of “an adult male” overdosing. When they got there, they confirmed the person, found on the Alaska side of the station, had died. When we went over to ask about it, officers said they were waiting for the Medical Examiner’s Office to arrive; they’ll determine the cause of death.
Oh that’s tragic. I’ve called the police twice about two different drug users in need of help and they refuse to come. “They won’t accept help.” It’s sad that there is no program to support these people.
I was driving down 35th and passing the 7-eleven at 5:50 pm. There was man shooting up in the open. He was sitting on the concrete barriers at the old pecos bbq next to the 7-eleven. There were two other people with him. A woman and a man. Sad.
I don’t find this sad, I find it infuriating. It is the obvious and inevitable outcome of our city’s drug policy.
Imagine saying you don’t find someone losing their life sad… I’m sure most of us have an addict in our family. I find your lack of empathy disgusting
Dad says the situation is infuriating, beyond sad,…..to me it reads that he is disgusted with the status of drugs being readily available and not much effort to stop the supply……plenty of empathy there. By the way, this week the WA State Attorney General’s office painkiller lawsuit against Albertson’s pharmacy is starting. Keep an eye on the progress of that lawsuit because if the AG is successful there could be additional funds available for treatment.
I’m an empath. But imagine being SO blind with empathy, that you think it’s a solution to tragedy. Seattle’s obsession with “the empathy solves all, rather than legitimate action and support” is the reason people are dying like this. Wake up! Oh, and I generally vote left. So don’t come at me saying I’m too conservative.
The city isn’t selling the drugs and the courts are not punishing the people who sell the drugs
Do you have any idea of what it’s like to have an addiction? It’s the person that has to say this is the problem. I quit smoking 11 years ago. Countless family told me it was bad for me. It was me that said this is a problem. Told everyone. People need to make the choice to quit. If the city removes the drugs, users will find a way to get it.Dad, Have a heart and compassion.
Here’s the problem though. You are not mentally unstable, so you can tell when a habit is unhealthy. There are plenty of mentally ill people that are treating their mental issues with illicit drugs. They are never going to make the choice to quit if the underlying mental illness is not treated as well.
There are plenty of addicts who look like they’re mentally ill to keyboard warriors who have no idea what they’re talking about.
I understand “DAD”‘s comment completely. These deaths from drug OD’s have gotten to the point where madness has overtaken the sadness for them. The city has spent so much money on trying to “fix” these problems ie: homelessness, mental illness and drug addiction for what 10-20+ yrs and we have gotten nowhere. So I understand “DAD” completely.
For all those coming after “dad” here, where’s the lie? This city allows/accepts/enables a rampant drug crisis and pretends it will magically get better without enforcing the laws already on the books. Your misplaced anger should be directed at the mayor and council who are allowing an open air drug and black market in the international district (when soccer’s not in town). “Everything’s fine.”
I feel like I’m taking crazy pills reading the responses to Dad saying he’s not empathetic and needs to have a heart. If he weren’t empathetic he wouldn’t be upset about the death. Just because a person has a different emotion than you as a response to a situation doesn’t mean they aren’t empathetic. Jeez.
Naloxone is freely and readily available. I carry it and have used it to help folks, I have insisted my son carry it since he was in high school. You never know who the person is that may need it, it’s not always a “stranger” outside of the gas station, it could be someone in your own home. The stigma is real. Be prepared to save a life.
It is sad that we as a society let this happen. The freedom of choice even chronic bad choices meets the reality of the illegal drug cycle. Internment, detox, medical and psychological treatment and directed rehab into needed community efforts is better than continually allowing these revolving street deaths. We are such a progressive city with few if any alternative political roadblocks, so why do we let this happen?????
And the only shelter west of the Duwamish is two blocks away and closed for the summer. I wonder, could these two things be connected somehow.
The city is failing these people and surrounding community members who have to constantly see individuals struggling with drugs. I don’t have the answer, but the current approach by the city is a very passive way to handle the issue. It’s only going to get worse.
Anyway, here’s what chat suggests….
1. Make treatment available immediately, 24/7
2. Stop allowing public consumption and open-air drug markets
3. Use consequences that escalate when people repeatedly refuse help
4. Build specialized supportive housing, not just generic shelter
5. Concentrate resources on the relatively small group driving repeated crises
6. Target locations, dealers and trafficking networks—not just users
7. Measure outcomes brutally and stop funding programs that cannot demonstrate results
Oh, I just love all these self-righteous comments. Quit patting yourselves on the back: You’re not as good as you think you are. Everyone should find this infuriating. Deaths like this occur when you allow people to languish in their addictions and mental illness. When you permit someone to take drugs without any consequences or accountability, deaths are going to occur. But rather than force individuals into treatment, the city’s leaders have decided to take a hands-off approach to the problem. What do expect is going to happen with the current policies? I know, the never ending cycle of death and crime. Some people need decisions made for them. Stop confusing compassion with enabling.
Self righteous for seeing a human being as a human being? Get so for real. This isn’t a city of Seattle problem by the way. It’s everywhere. If seeing the human tragedy in a needless death is self righteous, then sure.
You can’t force someone to get clean. It doesn’t work. I don’t think you understand how addiction works.
So well said. Other countries have drawn a line. Why can’t we? It’s the humane thing to do.
No country has cured addiction, and the ones that have “drawn a line” are executing people or imprisoning them for decades for their addictions. If that’s your idea of “humane” I think we should all thank our lucky stars we have the people we do in charge of addiction response instead of you.
We don’t have the beds or capacity to treat people. If you really find it infuriating vote and support services to help people with addictions. What other countries have figured out is how to care for those in need.
This is inhumane to continue to let individuals die on the streets alone due to drug overdoses. It’s time for politicians to step up and change course here before more innocent lives are lost due to this epedmenic. They were more than eager to take actions during a pandemic but now they just say it’s inhumane to intervene and truly help these people. It’s a way bigger issue than more housing. That’s a guise to continue to funnel money into KCRHA while the homeless problem gets worse with the more money they ask for and ultimately get & more lives are lost due to drug usage on our streets. We need leaders willing to change course & take preventive measures to save those from drug addiction & mental health struggles they deal with that are the root causes of their homelessness.
Data point, the overdose deaths are not just happening “on the streets.” In the daily death investigation reports from the Medical Examiner’sOffice, more are usually indoors – not just motels or shelters but residences – than outdoors.
Politicians really need to change their approach to this epedemic before more innocent human beings pass away alone on our streets due to drug overdoses. The housing first model isn’t for all individuals. It seems majority of political leaders want to only focus on housing now helping those with addictions get off the streets to save their lives. They have the funds to do so but choose to not use those funds wisely & effectively then ask for more money via taxes over & over while the more money they get via taxes the issue of homelessness & drug addicted people dying alone on our streets grows. This is purely an inhumane approach by our leaders!
This is my family member.This is 30 years of addiction.This is a family collectively holding their breath for this day.This is choices and resources and NO SOLUTIONS.This is sad and infuriating and helpless. He was a protective big brother, an original soccer fan, he loved his family and tried his best.He was loved. We are heartbroken.
I’m am so sorry for your loss. My deepest condolences to you and your family.
So sorry for your loss….your brother was my friend. I talked to him often on the streets of West Seattle, and we had good conversations. I’ve know him since his high school years through soccer.
Nora,so sorry for your loss. I coached Nathan at Seattle university , a wonderful young man who fought addiction to the best of abilities. God bless you all
I am so sorry for your loss. He was a friend of mine who I tried to help. This breaks my heart that it ended this way. I am sending much love to your family.
Washington state has the 4th highest rate of drug overdose deaths in the nation. Let that sink in. We are failing and the problem only seems to be growing.
Sorry, comment time is over.
| 39 COMMENTS