jim curtice

Yakima County is grappling with a rising tide of overdose deaths this year, significantly driven by the pervasive presence of fentanyl.

Statewide overdose death rates have skyrocketed in recent years.

. It's a major mental health crisis that started to show increases in 2021 during the COVID pandemic.

Yakima County Coroner Jim Curtice says so far this year the number stands at 83 suspected or confirmed overdose deaths.

Yakima County Coroner Jim Curtice says the 95 people who died of overdoses in 2021 set the record for the county.

So far this year 61 people have died of a drug overdose. The number was 54 at the end of last month.

Yakima County Coroner Jim Curtice says so far half way through the month of July and a total of 46 people have died.

Curtis says the incident in which he struggled with a Deputy was the result of his challenge with his mental health after serving as an EMT and Paramedic since 1991.

In a news release from the prosecutors office Brusic says the evening started with Curtice and an off-duty Yakima County Sheriff's Deputy who were together at a local bar.

. Last year the record wasn't broken but still 83 people lost their lives to drug overdoses in Yakima County.