King County Public Health Director Dr. Faisal Khan joins The Day With Trae to discuss health issues facing the community
The new director of King County Public Health Dr. Faisal Khan sat down with Trae Holiday on The Day With Trae to talk about health issues facing the community, including what he calls the “slowly-unfolding catastrophe” of Fentanyl.
“The bodies are literally piling up,” Dr. Khan said. “It is flooding our streets and killing people in the prime of their lives. It is driving up mortality rates to a point where the numbers are simply astronomical.”
He said across the nation Fentanyl-related deaths have been shattering records and causing issues for medical examiners offices, which have no place to store the bodies.
“Nearly 60% of the deaths being reported to them for investigation are related to Opioids and Fentanyl overdoses,” Khan said. “Every year we seem to be breaking a new record. I don’t see an easy end.”
Khan called for a “massive investment” from the federal government to support those working to stop the spread of Fentanyl.
They also discussed community burnout and the importance of rest following the pandemic, as well as what needs to be done to keep people safe in the current conditions.
“Recovering our workforce from all that exhaustion is priority number one,” Khan said. “Getting people to take a deep breath and realize why they do what they do and rediscovering their motivation is priority number one.”
Dr. Khan moved to Seattle after he says he was forced out of office in St. Louis due to his push for masks and social distancing.
“I stood up for the basic restrictions we needed in place to stop the spread of the disease in some of the most vulnerable and underserved communities in the US,” Khan said.
He heralded King County as a national leader in measures which helped people stay safe during the pandemic and said he is proud to take his new post.
“Working at the local level in a city or county office is the best possible way to experience the immense personal gratification you get from helping people every single day,” Khan said. “You don’t have the luxury of hiding away in an office.”
“I am constantly cognizant that this has always been a marathon, not a sprint,” Khan said. “The journey towards good health and well-being is a continuum. There are constant threats to that which are constantly emerging, so we have to stay prepared.”
You can watch the full interview above.
