As the series “Facing Fentanyl” continues, KIRO Newsradio’sListen to Part Five of “Facing Fentanyl” here:
Galvan said about six out of every 10 pills they seize contain a potentially deadly dose, stating illegal fentanyl is coming from Mexico and is made with chemicals from China. But people, like a man who told KIRO Newsradio’s Heather Bosch that he does “drugs on the street,” are largely left alone unless they’re deemed an immediate threat to themselves or others. He was among a group of people just up the street from where Bosch spoke with Seattle police officer Judinna Gulpan.
“We are still seeing people that we’ve contacted that are in services still out here on the streets still using narcotics,” she said, admitting it sometimes feels like the movie Groundhog Day. “You know we’re contacting the same person or we’re addressing the same issue. But it’s something we’re going to continue to do until we figure out a better way.”Lee is the president of the museum quality arts shop, Fossil and Stone, across the street from where Bosch spoke with Officer Gulpan.
“We had a couple grab-and-runs and break-ins, our window has been shot out with guns. A car has driven through the front door deliberately. It’s been quite a year,” Lee said, agreeing with the rise in crime residents are seeing.Several of the businesses next to hers have closed in response. Their windows and doors have been boarded up in the heart of the city.
It’s so addictive that most versions of a new drug possession law state legislators are considering would offer treatment for opioid use disorder and require jail time for those who refuse it. Some plans would also ban the public use of illicit drugs. Opponents said doing that would only move, not solve, the fentanyl crisis.