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Might 7, 2023
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Might 8, 2023, 10:39 a.m. ET
Bellingham, a city that after prided itself because the “most hippie” in Washington, has taken drastic motion to outlaw medication, after statewide decriminalization led to spiking crime and little one overdose deaths.
The proudly liberal metropolis of 92,000 has been pushed to its restrict, with the hearth division responding to 223 overdoses — 2.5 calls a day — between January and April 12, in response to Cascadia Each day.
Among the many useless are two youngsters and a 5-year-old, who overdosed on fentanyl in March and was discovered useless by police with foam coming from her mouth.
Overdoses have change into so commonplace, one sufferer was useless for hours earlier than anybody even observed, in response to Bellingham council member Edwin Williams.
He informed The Publish: “A person was sitting on the curb in a car parking zone along with his head bowed, proper out within the open … and a police officer informed me that he had been useless for no less than 12 hours,” Williams mentioned. “It shocked me to my core.”
Photos taken by The Publish confirmed individuals slumped over of their automobiles, makeshift encampments of rusty RVs, and one destitute particular person slumped by a purchasing cart with their possessions, in what was as soon as a picturesque coastal city an hour south of the Canadian border.
“I’ve lived right here for 30 years, and no, I haven’t seen something like this,” Williams mentioned. “I might characterize our metropolis as one that’s making an attempt and prepared to bend over backwards to assist and supply individuals with packages to handle both habit or homelessness.
A person who recognized himself as “Bobby” smokes a joint in Bellingham, Wash., on Might 4, 2023.Jennifer Gauthier
“However at this level — the mixture of COVID, the pervasiveness of fentanyl and the state regulation being modified — pushed every little thing to the restrict. It was simply the proper storm and in some unspecified time in the future, one thing needed to be performed.”
Metropolis officers accredited an ordinance on April 10, making it a criminal offense to “inject, ingest or inhale” onerous medication in public — a departure from the state regulation handed two years in the past that did the other and decriminalized drug possession.
The town council’s resolution to get harder on medication was spurred partially by the loss of life of the 5-year-old lady — which led to the arrest of her mother and father and one other particular person, who’ve all since been charged with homicide — and two teen deaths.
The city of Bellingham, Wash., Might 4, 2023.Jennifer Gauthier
Council Member Edwin Williamshttps://cob.org/gov/council/edwin-williams
Emily Halasz, 15, was discovered useless on March 8 at a homeless encampment behind the Bellingham House Depot, whereas 17-year previous Aaren Coleman died at his grandfather’s dwelling in King County.
Whatcom County, which incorporates Bellingham, had 11 overdose deaths in 2018, however that quantity has exploded because the pandemic, with 50 in 2021 and 89 in 2022, in response to the Whatcom County Medical Examiner’s Workplace.
Nevertheless, the robust stance on open drug use has brought about some controversy amongst residents who help a “diversion reasonably than jail” method.
A row of camper vans line a avenue in Bellingham, Wash., on Might 4, 2023.Jennifer Gauthier
A message left on the window of a automobile says, “I cannot cooperate with regulation enforcement,” in Bellingham, Wash., on Might 4, 2023.Jennifer Gauthier
Underneath the brand new guidelines, those that are caught utilizing onerous medication like fentanyl or meth in public can be arrested — however may solely face misdemeanor expenses. Bellingham Mayor Seth Fleetwood mentioned the ordinance may also embody a “neighborhood courtroom” element the place these arrested could possibly be positioned on a kind of diversion program, particulars of which have but to be solidified.
For Bellingham mother and father Steve and Laurie Satushek, town ordinance just isn’t sufficient. They are saying their son, Mick, 29, was failed by the authorities and the state earlier than he just lately misplaced his battle with drug habit.
Laurie mentioned Mick had struggled with schizophrenia for greater than a decade and was probably abusing methamphetamine and fentanyl when he was discovered useless within the city’s Arne Hanna Aquatic Middle on April 5.
The Satushek household: (from left) daughter Mia, dad Steve, son Mick and mother Laurie. Mick, who struggled with psychological well being and drug habit, overdosed final month, in response to Laurie. Household picture
The Satusheks mentioned regardless of stints in psychological well being remedy amenities and rehab in California and Washington, their son was usually turned away or launched again into the streets with out them realizing.
“It’s been 10 years of residing hell, understanding what occurs with individuals which might be mentally sick,” Laurie mentioned in tears. “The truth that my son overdosed on fentanyl or any drug was simply certain to occur as a result of he didn’t have an opportunity in our system.”
Steve Satushek mentioned Washington’s incapacity to implement legal guidelines that would handle the rising psychological well being and drug disaster has left individuals like his son with no security web.
A camper van on an industrial avenue in Bellingham.Jennifer Gauthier
A minivan parked within the city of Bellingham serves as a house for an unhoused particular person, who’s handed out and mendacity on a skinny mattress.Jennifer Gauthier
“I might take into account myself a progressive particular person, however there simply are numerous legal guidelines and issues that I don’t suppose work correctly,” he mentioned.
“I stroll round downtown and it’s simply terrible. I went with my son to a few of these homeless camps, and so they’re simply horrid, filthy locations. I really feel actual strongly that we have to return to what the New York mayor [Eric Adams] and [California] Gov. Gavin Newsom have mentioned, which is to involuntarily commit individuals who want that assist.”
Bellingham officers started to see the uptick in crimes and public drug use after the 2021 state Supreme Courtroom struck down Washington’s regulation that made easy drug possession a felony.
The Mount Baker Theatre in Bellingham, Wash., on Might 4, 2023.Jennifer Gauthier
The present state regulation, which classifies drug possession as a misdemeanor on the third arrest, expires on July 1. A proposed invoice that may’ve supplied harsher punishments — together with a 90 day jail sentence — did not garner sufficient votes within the state Senate final month.
“We can’t settle for decriminalization in the midst of a fentanyl disaster,” mentioned Gov. Jay Inslee after the measure did not move.
Pissed off Washingtonians declare politicians’ incapacity to give you options will value much more lives.
“We’re pretty prosperous however there was nonetheless nothing we may do to save lots of our son as a result of the system labored in opposition to him,” Laurie Satushek mentioned.
“We did ‘robust love’ and despatched him to remedy facilities. We did every little thing that we may to advocate for him. It was not sufficient and one thing has to alter.”
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