EVERETT—Three children under the age of one were exposed to fentanyl in Everett in April, all within a short four-day-window. One of these children, unfortunately, died.
The first child, an 11-month-old, was found unresponsive by their parents on Saturday, April 20, Fox13 first reported. The child was administered Narcan before being transported to a nearby hospital for further treatment by medics. They were released that day.
Just four days later a 6-month-old was having difficulty breathing in an apartment complex in Everett’s Port Gardner neighborhood. First responders administered first aid, including Narcan, and the child was transported to the Seattle Children’s Everett clinic for further treatment.
That same day Everett firefighters responded to a call involving a 13-month-old who had stopped breathing in Everett’s Westmont neighborhood. The child was taken to the hospital after lifesaving efforts but unfortunately died shortly after.
The Snohomish County Medical Examiner will release an official cause of death at a later date.
All three incidents were unrelated, FOX news reported, and it is unclear whether the parents will face criminal charges.
Just four days before the first incident Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers announced that the county would be awarding $77,800 to 11 different organizations that provide recovery services for people experiencing opioid use disorder – paid for out of the One Washington Memorandum opioid settlement dollars.
Supporting community-based organizations such as these are the first step in the county’s strategy developed by the Multi-Agency Coordination Group (MAC).
“Fentanyl and other opioids are deadly, and they have a lasting impact on our loved ones and the entire community,” said Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers. “In Snohomish County, we have the infrastructure and partnerships needed to address substance use disorder, and we’re acting with urgency to launch and expand local efforts. These projects will help support our community partners providing vital, life-saving recovery services to set people on a path to rebuild and thrive.”
In 2023 there were 264 fatal opioid overdoses in Snohomish County, a dramatic increase from the 100 opioid-related overdoses just six years earlier in 2017. The number of overdoses involving fentanyl jumped from 24 to 251.
Fentanyl is now involved in nearly all opioid overdose deaths. The 2023 preliminary counts indicate there were at least 23% more opioid overdose deaths reported by the Snohomish County Medical Examiner, compared with 2022.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
3 Responses
Hopefully the parents get charged.
However I strongly suggest you don’t report whether or not they get charged, because sadly if you report that they get charged other parents might not call for help.
I don’t understand why parents are so uncaring with these poor infants. These children are unable to fight back in overdose cases. I feel that these parents should be punished by the Proper Law Officials
Parents should be held accountable for sure and a manatory drug rehab of some sort. Just jailing them wont help with combating addiction.