MOUNT VERNON, WA. – (MyBellinghamNow.com) Just days after the Whatcom County Council mulled a fentanyl emergency declaration, officials in Skagit County are also sounding the alarm on overdoses.

The Skagit County Sheriff’s Office says that since Jan. 20, EMS has responded to 18 suspected fentanyl overdoses.

That includes three overdose deaths.

Skagit County Interlocal Drug Enforcement Unit says that fentanyl in both pill and powder form are dominating local illicit drug markets.

Last year, over 782,000 fentanyl pills and 11.5 kilograms of fentanyl powder were seized in Skagit County.

Drug enforcement commander Tobin Meyer adds that community awareness and education are key to