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Reported opioid overdoses continue to fall in Whatcom County in 2026

EMS dispatch calls and emergency room visits are both down significantly from last year.

By Jason Upton June 17, 2026 12:15 pm

Close-up of a clear blister-pack container on a textured backing, with a partially visible label and barcode and a few white pills inside the cavitys. — My Bellingham Now

WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Whatcom County is seeing some promising trends in its fight against the opioid crisis.

According to data from Whatcom County Health and Community Services and EMS, dispatch calls for overdoses have fallen by 26% over the first five months of 2026 compared to the same period last year.

The shift was even more pronounced for opioid overdoses, which saw a 56% drop.

Emergency room visits for opioid and general overdoses each saw similar decreases of 55% and 39%, respectively.

Overdose deaths from opioids have also tailed off at both the local and state levels after reaching an all-time high in 2023.

Whatcom County announced a series of actions to address the fentanyl crisis in spring 2024 after declaring a state of emergency over the epidemic.

Those actions included the installation of eight dispensers around the county that offer free, 24/7 access to the opioid-reversal medication naloxone.