Denver Overdose Crisis: Surge in Public Deaths Puts Bystanders on the Front Line
Denver is facing a devastating overdose crisis, with an alarming surge in public deaths that has left bystanders in the front line. Many unsuspecting individuals, including grocery store workers, baristas, and bartenders, are finding themselves thrust into the role of first responders. As the number of overdose deaths in public spaces continues to rise, the need for immediate action and intervention has become more critical than ever.
Z Williams, while out jogging near Cheesman Park, came across a man lying motionless among the trees on East 8th Avenue. Initially, Williams assumed the man was simply enjoying the sunny weather. However, upon closer inspection, it became evident that something was terribly wrong. The man’s skin was pale, his condition grave. Syringes scattered nearby hinted at a possible overdose.
Fortunately, Williams was prepared. Carrying naloxone, an opioid overdose antidote, they were able to administer two doses in an attempt to save the man’s life. Tragically, despite their efforts, the man was pronounced dead by the ambulance crew that arrived at the scene.
Disturbingly, the number of individuals who have succumbed to overdoses in Denver’s public spaces has more than tripled between 2018 and 2022, according to data from the city’s Office of the Medical Examiner. In 2022 alone, 87 people lost their lives to drug overdoses in public areas, a significant increase from the 26 deaths recorded four years prior.
Worryingly, the situation shows no signs of improvement. The first six months of 2023 alone saw 72 deaths due to drug overdoses in public, accounting for over a quarter of Denver’s total of 265 drug-related fatalities during that period.
The tragic reality is that these deaths are occurring in bars, bus stations, parks, and even churches. People are taking their last breaths in the unlikeliest of places, leaving passersby to grapple with the responsibility of intervening. Retail and grocery workers often find themselves faced with the distressing sight of individuals in distress, while joggers and commuters step up to provide crucial first aid and call emergency services.
It’s a sobering realization when you realize that you have become the one to take action and check if someone is okay, said Lisa Raville, Executive Director of the Harm Reduction Action Center, an organization that provides clean needles and supplies to drug users and has responded to numerous overdose incidents throughout the city. You look around, and it hits you that you are the one who needs to step in.
As the number of public deaths escalates, the overdose crisis is increasingly thrust into the public eye, demanding urgent attention and a comprehensive response from city and state leaders. Finding effective solutions to stem the tide of tragedy is paramount, as the crisis impacts not only the individuals struggling with addiction but also innocent bystanders.
In these challenging times, it is clear that immediate action is necessary to address the escalating overdose crisis in Denver. This multifaceted issue requires a compassionate and comprehensive approach that combines harm reduction strategies, increased access to addiction treatment services, and public awareness campaigns. Only by working together can the city and its residents hope to bring an end to the heartbreaking loss of life and the devastation caused by the overdose crisis.
