Overdose deaths rise in Western states as focus shifts to Pacific Coast

Fentanyl and meth fuel rising deaths in Alaska, Nevada, Washington and Oregon, prompting harm reduction efforts and tougher prosecutions

Despite an encouraging national dip in the past year, overdose deaths are still on the rise in many Western states as the epicenter of the nation’s continuing crisis shifts toward the Pacific Coast, where deadly fentanyl and also methamphetamine are finding more victims.

Overdose deaths remain sharply higher since 2019. Many states are working on “harm reduction” strategies that stress cooperation with people who use drugs; in some cases, states are getting tougher on prosecutions, with murder charges for dealers.

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