PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — At least 11 overdoses were reported in a half-day on Friday in Portland, leaving 3 people dead in what police believe to be fentanyl-related incidents.
A 33-year-old man died shortly before noon. A 25-year-old woman died at 8:20 p.m. and another person (who police did not describe) died 32 minutes later.
The calls began at 10:29 a.m. and continued until 11:08 p.m. Most of them happened after 3 p.m. and two of the deaths recorded were part of 4 calls during that short 32-minute period.
All of the calls were in the general downtown area of Portland. There were two calls at SW 4th and Washington plus single calls at SW 1st and Main, SW 4th and Alder, SW 4th near Oak, SW 5th and Washington, SW 6th near Washington, SW Broadway and Oak; NW 3rd near Davis; NW Naito (600 block); West Burnside near NW Broadway.
“A really overwhelming number of overdose calls in the past 24 hours, and really the past couple of days,” said PPB Sgt. Kevin Allen. “And of course, we’ve had 3 deaths of people that we believe are connected to overdoses. And that’s tremendously concerning and really tragic.”
He said the bureau is not sure what, exactly, is driving the surge in overdose calls and deaths, but said they’re very concerned and wants the public to be cautious and aware.
“There may be some drugs that are circulating through the street that are particularly potent, and that people who are engaging in this activity really need to be careful with what they’re taking.”
Narcan was used in 6 of these calls, including one of the fatalities, police said. Narcan is often used to effectively counteract the effects of an opioid overdose. Though police carry it, Allen said the supply is dwindling.
“There have been times where officers have told me that they have arrived on an overdose and they haven’t had any Narcan because they used it all,” Allen told KOIN 6 News. “And certainly when we’re using this and much of it in a short period of time, you know the supply issues are certainly a huge concern.”
Many of the 911 calls alerted responders that the emergency was an overdose which “allow responders to know exactly where to respond to provide aid,” officials said.
As first responders work to keep up with the increased calls, police want people to reach out if they suspect someone is in need of help from an overdose. Every minute can mean the difference between life and death.
Those calling in an overdose have immunity under Oregon law from any drug-related offense, PPB said.
PPB Narcotics and Organized Crime page
The spike in overdoses is not just a Portland problem. The most recent data from the Oregon Health Authority shows unintentional opioid overdose deaths continue to rise each year. The 332 deaths reported so far this year is a jump from the 280 deaths reported for all of 2019.
“You don’t ever completely get used to it,” Allen said. “It’s really hard to see. If you go to a case where somebody has overdosed you know there’s people that care about that person, whether they’re family, friends you know, other people on the street that they know. You can see the heartache that they’re feeling.”