Fentanyl deaths in L.A. County soared 1,280% between 2016 and 2021

A new report by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has laid bare the bleak state of the fentanyl crisis, with the number of fatal overdoses recorded in LA sky-rocketing by 1,280 percent in just five years.

Los Angeles officials briefed the public Tuesday about the new numbers, which have soared 13-fold from 109 deaths linked to fentanyl in 2016, to 1,504 in 2021.

Juli Shamash, a Los Angeles mother and advocate, who lost her 19-year-old son Tyler to a fentanyl overdose in 2018, told the crowd that the drug 'is killing everyone and anyone.'

'To the parents out there that think, 'not my child,' think again.

'This is killing straight-A students, tracks stars. All races. All religions. All socioeconomic groups,' she warned.

Juli Shamashand her husband Charles, who lost their 19-year-old son Tyler to a fentanyl overdose in 2018. The family have since become activists for increased drug education and overdose prevention measures

Los Angeles County is confronting the shocking revelation that fentanyl linked deaths have increased 13-fold in just five years as the synthetic opioid has taken over the street drug trade

Progressive LA District Attorney George Gascón says the city needs to take a careful look at the things it has done in the past that have clearly not worked in confronting the danger brought on by the raging drug problem

Grieving mother Juli Shamash warned LA parents on Tuesday that fentanyl 'is killing straight-A students, tracks stars. All races. All religions. All socioeconomic groups

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid many times more powerful than heroin, is often mixed with cocaine and other stimulants and consumed unknowingly by recreational drug users.

After the number of US deaths related to overdoses linked to synthetic opioids climbed to 70,000 last year, public health officials continue to sound the alarm over the extremely potent nature of fentanyl.

Dr. Gary Tsai, the direct of the Substance Abuse Prevention and Control division at the LA County Department of Public Health, told the Los Angeles Times that the numbers suggest 'a lot of people are dying before they have a chance to make it to the emergency room.'

'We're talking a matter of minutes where someone can ingest a pill and they can stop breathing. If someone doesn't come across them and administer naloxone.'

Naloxone - more commonly known as Narcan - can reverse the often deadly effects of opioids.

But while emergency room visits due to fentanyl overdoses have surged, the figures have not climbed in step with the number of fentanyl deaths, indicating that many who die do so before reaching the hospital.

In 2021, fentanyl was a factor in 55 percent of overdose fatalities in the US. In the 12-17 age group, 92 percent of those who died from an overdose tested positive for fentanyl.

Los Angeles officials confirmed Shamash's sentiment that no group is left untouched by the ravages of fentanyl.

However, officials did note that the drug is impacting some communities disproportionately.

A higher number of white Los Angeles residents died last year as a result of fentanyl overdoses, but a higher share of the county's black population died. 

Black people account for eight percent of the city's population but make up 17 percent of the city's fentanyl overdoses.

Likewise, there was a significantly higher number of deaths by fentanyl in the wealthiest corners of the city, but the fentanyl death rate was three times higher in the poorer parts of the city.

Naloxone - commonly sold as Narcan - is a lifesaving drug that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdoes as it is happening. Often, however, drug users are taking illicit substance alone, meaning there is no one onsite to administer the drug

As is the case in many other major metropolitan areas, LA's drug issue has climbed in step with its crime issue, which has escalated significantly in the last several years

Progressive District Attorney George Gascón also addressed the group Tuesday, saying that they must critically assess 'what hasn't worked in the past.'

'We recognize that a lot of the solutions that we applied in the '90s were unsuccessful.

'Frankly, had they been successful, we would not be standing here today,' he said.

Gascón has survived two recall attempts on his position after spending much of his time in office feuding with the LA Sheriff's office and advocating for progressive bail reform policies and minimum sentences for violent criminals - including drug traffickers.

His advocacy for lesser sentencing and the premature release of a number of convicted murders and sex offenders has earned him a soft-on-crime reputation, similar to those of other Soros-backed district attorneys across the country.

As is the case in many other major metropolitan areas, LA's drug problem has climbed in step with its crime issue, which has escalated significantly in the last several years. The drug, crime and homelessness crisis in the City of Angels has left many longtime residents feeling hopeless and ready to flee.

Los Angeles has seen 7.3 percent more homicides this year than last, according to law enforcement. And the same progressive bail reform policies that have contributed to the crime surge in New York are allowing dangerous criminals to mix among the rest of the LA homeless population.

Last year, homicides climbed 12 percent over last year, robberies were up 5.3 percent and shootings rose by 14.8 percent. Two attempts to recall the city's progressive DA have ended in failure. 

Recently, Democrat Los Angeles city councilmember Joe Buscaino told Dr. Phil that kids in his district are being forced to 'step over needles' and 'human waste' on their way to school due to the ongoing homeless crisis in California.

Buscaino said, 'No child in America should be afraid to walk to school, and what we have found in Los Angeles [is] is kids are afraid to walk to school.'

'They tell their parents they have to step over needles, human waste, and deal with individuals unfortunately suffering from psychotic behavior - right next to their playground area,' he added.

Robert F. Kennedy school in Koreatown near downtown Los Angeles surrounded by homeless around the block while kids play and walk around 

Los Angeles is currently home to the most homeless encampments in the country

The politician told Dr. Phil that his legislative agenda is not driven by hatred or bigotry toward homeless people, but rather the need to protect the vulnerable in his community.

'It’s not a crime to be homeless, but these are sensitive spaces we have to protect, the most sensitive spaces among us. Playgrounds, beaches, libraries, parks - and have some accountability for those who are in these spaces,' he said.

Over the past year, the camp residents have become increasingly bold, putting up full-sized tents and cordoning off entire streets, much to the chagrin of outraged locals

Some evidence even suggests residents of the pop-up camps are siphoning water and power from the city.

The aggression of the city's homeless population increased during the pandemic, as was the case in virtually all other major metropolitan areas. Like many other liberal-run cities across the country, LA has become a den of debauchery and crime and its path forward is unclear at best.

The citizens of Los Angeles recently voted to elect progressive Democrat Karen Bass as their next mayor, over more conservative leaning businessman Rick Caruso, who ran on a platform of mitigating the city's out-of-control homeless issue.