SPOKANE, Wash. – Spokane residents are expressing concerns about open drug use in public spaces, claiming it deters them from enjoying downtown areas due to safety fears.
Dan McLay shared his experience with NonStop Local, explaining that he got a second-hand high while in downtown.
“It’s upsetting, it’s scary, I don’t want my consciousness to be altered against my will,” said McLay.
While leaving an AA meeting in downtown Spokane, McLay noticed an unusual smell. Initially, as a retired nurse and concerned grandfather, he thought something was burning. But then he realized it was something more familiar:
“Since it wasn’t the first time, I knew it was fentanyl, meth, or both,” he said.
McLay described the effects after being exposed to the drug fumes.
“I was edgy, agitated, and just felt weird,” he said, explaining he felt high for 16 hours.
The man who manages the facility where this incident occurred shared his perspective, stating.
“Fentanyl is not the problem, the people are the problem. You treat the problem, and the fentanyl goes away. You fight fentanyl, and you’re not going to win.”
For privacy reasons, the facility’s location is undisclosed.
According to the manager, this incident is not isolated, and similar occurrences have happened one other time this year at the facility.
“I can’t stop them from doing fentanyl, but I can stop them from doing it here,” he added.
The Spokane Police Department reported that from January to September, they received 4,500 drug-related calls. About 130 of these calls monthly are in public spaces and not tied to specific addresses.
McLay emphasized the need for compassion toward individuals with addiction but maintained that public safety must be prioritized.
“I care about these people, but it’s not fair that they’re endangering people’s health,” he said.
NonStop Local reached out to Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown’s office regarding the issue of open drug use downtown. The mayor was unavailable for comment, and no prepared statement was issued.
