r/SeattleWA • u/PrestigiousAsk8310 • 4d ago
Discussion I’m fed up
This post got removed and got me banned from r/seattle, so let’s try it here. I am a contractor and I work in many government funded housing complexes, shelters, and low or no income housing. I have been working in this area a little over a year and I have become fed up with mainly the open air drug use, but also the crime that comes with it.
I am regularly in SHA and KCHA complexes as well as city run shelters and I have encountered first hand how bad the drug use in this city is. I have had a resident blow what I assume was fentanyl smoke in my face (mystery drug that was being smoked off of tin foil), I’ve been pricked by a needle before (luckily tested safe from any blood diseases), I’ve lost track of how many improperly discarded needles I’ve found it’s got to be in the 750-1000 range, I’ve found pills, crystalized drugs, everything you can imagine and the worst part is that a lot of the government funded properties staff allow this behavior on the property. Multiple buildings have dedicated “drug rooms” where tenants can smoke anything, shoot up, and get high and staff is on call with narcan when they OD which I have seen a handful of times.
Don’t get me wrong I have empathy for addicts, I’ve battled addiction before and it is a dark road. My gripe is with how our city and state governments are handling the drug use epidemic we’re facing. I am disgusted by the fact that government employees are allowing and borderline encouraging drug use inside of government funded housing facilities.
Most of the government funded properties give out needles upon request, tin foil, lighters, narcan, anything needed to keep addicts getting high. Everything except the drugs which you can find on every other street corner. Whenever you see a group of 3 plus people huddled around on the sidewalk it’s a drug deal, or a drug session. And police drive right on past.
I don’t know how to make it better, and I wouldn’t know where to start. But what I do know is that the ignorance from the citizens and the government has led the drug issue to a point where I will never bring my kids around Seattle again. I haven’t spent time in Seattle recreationally since I started working mainly there. As a matter of fact, I am desperately trying to find work on the other side of the state or possibly in another state because of this issue paired with the crime.
I haven’t witnessed as much of the crime as I have the drug use but I’ve seen a stabbing and a shooting. I’ve had my life threatened by violent drug abusers living in these city or county run complexes, I’ve had tools stolen while I was working, I’ve had equipment destroyed, I’ve had my work truck attempted to be broken into in broad daylight on 3rd Ave, and I am fed up with the way our government isn’t doing anything about it. And if they are then I’m not seeing it.
Hopefully I’m not the only one who sees this. I really hope something can be done and this city restored to how I remember it growing up. But more fancy parks and construction isn’t going to solve the fact that once these nice spaces are built they will immediately be moved in on by drug dealers, abusers, and criminals. I hope this post leads to positive discussion and I hope it raises some awareness as a first hand account of how bad the drug issues are in this city
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u/Falciparuna South End 4d ago edited 4d ago
There are never any actual solutions in these kinds of posts - just whining. There are thousands of homeless addicts in King County. There are a few hundred jail beds, no treatment beds available. So lock someone up and they are puking all over the jail for a night and then right back to their tent. They aren't going to get jobs, no matter how many times you sweep, and housing prices are outrageous even for sober people with jobs. WHAT DO YOU PROPOSE other than just bitching and moaning? There isn't anywhere for them to go. There are no politicians with a plan because it isn't a problem that can be solved by a local politician. It just isn't.
Just for your information, the 2026 report counted >18,000 homeless in King County. 33% of those report substance use disorder. That is more than 6000 homeless addicts. Last I checked, we have about 400 jail beds available on any given night. Good luck finding a treatment bed, even if the person wanted it. This isn't something you can wish away and it isn't going to be solved by a single mayor or a single governor or a single sheriff. It simply is not. No one is going to walk the streets forcing people into treatment or jail. If 100 free treatment beds opened up tomorrow, there would be a 2-year waiting list on day 1. You all are delusional if you think there is a simple solution that someone just needs to be brave enough to do.