GRANT COUNTY, WA – Starting in 2026, healthcare providers will report all opioid overdoses to Grant County Health District (GCHD). This change helps GCHD and community partners better understand and respond to drug overdoses in our community.
Under state law, healthcare providers are required to report certain diseases to local public health. The Grant County Health Officer, Dr. Alexander Brzezny, has added overdose to the list of reportable conditions in Grant County. The Grant County Board of Health approved this change through Ordinance 2025-04.
Overdoses are not currently reportable conditions in Washington State. The data available through statewide dashboards has long reporting delays. While these sources let us see drug and overdose trends over the years, they don’t give the real-time information we need to act quickly.
“As overdose deaths continue to rise in Grant County, it is timely that we make overdose a reportable condition,” said Alexander Brzezny, Grant County Health Officer. “This change will provide us with critical information on how to most appropriately respond to overdoses and find the areas where they happen most. I am grateful to my colleagues and partners for supporting the collection of this critical data that will help make Grant County a safer and healthier place.”
What Will Happen
Healthcare providers and first responders will report opioid overdoses to GCHD within 48 hours.
Reports include information such as the location of the overdose, what drug was suspected, and whether naloxone was used.
Why Reporting Matters
Making overdose reportable gives us a better understanding of drug trends and overdose activity in Grant County. Access to real-time data allows GCHD and community partners to respond with timely prevention, intervention, and treatment strategies. Studies show that people who survive an overdose may be more open to treatment afterward. Timely follow-up and support can help connect people to lifesaving care.
By receiving these reports, GCHD can also report real-time spikes and trends to the public and community partners.
Background
Opioids are highly addictive substances with a high risk of overdose and death. The risk is particularly high with the introduction of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.
In 2024, early findings show that 3,121 Washington residents died from drug overdoses. Of these overdoses, 79% were due to opioids.
Deaths due to opioid overdose in Grant County have also been rising, from 10 deaths in 2020 to 26 in 2024. In 2024, Grant County experienced 176 emergency medical service responses from suspected opioid overdose.
This data gives us an idea of drug use and overdose activity in our area, but it is not shared with local public health quickly enough to respond in real-time.
GCHD is committed to working with community partners to address the opioid crisis in Grant County using data and proven strategies. By working with healthcare providers and first responders to collect overdose data, we can better understand what’s happening locally and take faster, more effective steps to prevent overdoses and connect people to help.
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