SPOKANE, Wash. — Despite nearly $2.5 million invested in opioid recovery services, some of Spokane’s youngest are slipping through the cracks and falling victim to the fentanyl crisis.
In 2023, 261 people died of opioid-related deaths were reported in Spokane County. 27 of those were people were children between the ages of 5 and 17. The city has responded by investing millions in recovery services, aiming to cover a broad range of programs from at-home services to outreach teams and treatment beds.
Kitara Johnson-Jones, who lost her son Gabriel Fensler fentanyl in March, has become a vocal advocate against the opioid epidemic.
“What people miss about overdose is that there’s a stigma where people are suffering in silence,” she said. “It happens regardless of your income… it doesn’t discriminate.”
Despite the city’s efforts, some community members and advocates say there are still noticeable gaps in the system, particularly when it comes to services for youth.
Chantelle Lieske, director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in Spokane, highlighted the challenges parents face in securing care for their children.
“To get yourself, or your child help… it can be really hard and really complicated,” Lieske said. “I think one of the things that we see is the frustration in parents, and they’re trying so hard to get these resources and services for their kids. What will your insurance pay for, who is in network with your insurance, they also have a say on how long you have access to care.”
In April, the Spokane County Medical Examiner presented data to city leaders showing that the majority of overdose deaths occur inside homes rather than on the streets.
“I think we’ve acknowledged that from the beginning, which is why we are investing a lot of the money that we have towards nonprofits who do work that is just for people regardless of their housing status,” City Spokesperson, Erin Hut said. “As of right now, the investments that we’ve made are for very specific reasons.”
For Johnson Jones, the solution lies in community collaboration and addressing the stigma surrounding fentanyl addiction.
“Why haven’t we done this around fentanyl in addiction? Is it the stigma? But for me, I think some of it is pride,” she said.
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