Most overdose deaths in Spokane County among housed, employed adults, according to new report

SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. — The Spokane County Medical Examiner says overdose deaths in the county rose in 2024 to at least 346 people with fentanyl accounting for 78% of the overdoses.

The Medical Examiner shared overdose death information for Spokane County in a report Tuesday.

In 2024, 346 people were confirmed to have died of overdose with 30-40 deaths still pending.

This number is up from 2023 where 301 people died of overdose representing 5% of the county’s total deaths for the year, approximately 6,000 people.

In January 2025, there were 30 confirmed overdose deaths with 40 additional deaths still pending. This is up from the 26 deaths in January 2024. January 2025 puts the county on track for approximately 360 overdose deaths.

The ME reports overdoses are up 293% since 2019 with a 19,000% increase in fentanyl overdoses between 2018 and 2023. The ME notes fentanyl overdoses also include fentanyl mixed with other narcotics.

Mixed-use deaths are trending higher such as meth combined with fentanyl or cocaine combined with fentanyl.

The Medical Examiner says most of the overdose deaths occur in people ages 25-65 with a rise in people 61 and older.

The ME notes most of the overdose deaths happened among those employed and housed, with many of the deaths occurring in houses and apartments.

“They can use in the freedom of their own home, in the comfort of their own home,” said Simonne Crooks, adult treatment service clinical supervisor at YFA Connections. “What we’re seeing now, with fentanyl being so cheap and accessible, is an influx of people using.”

According to the ME, fentanyl was present in about 80% of all overdose deaths in 2024.

Crooks said only about 10% of the many patients struggling with addiction that seek services at YFA Connects are homeless.

She said the best way to help prevent overdoses are to keep fentanyl test strips on hand and encourage open and nonjudgmental conversations.

The most impacted areas were in the zip codes 99201 and 99204 including West Central, the hospital district, and lower South Hill. The Medical Examiner notes other impacted areas include Browne’s Edition, the downtown core, and surrounding areas.