Skagway, Alaska, reeling after 2 suspected overdose deaths in as many days

People in the small community of Skagway, Alaska, are on edge after two residents died within hours of each other from suspected overdoses, and police seized “a large number” of pills believed to contain fentanyl.

“I think everybody has a mindset of, you know, trying to figure out what’s going on and make sure the crisis doesn’t get worse,” Mayor Andrew Cremata said Tuesday.

“Within 18 hours, to have two well-known, well-known members of the community, possibly die of an overdose — you know, we’re really upset. We’re not sure how we’re going to deal with this stuff.”

A news release from Skagway police chief Jerry Reddick on Monday said one person died on Friday and another on Saturday, and he said the deaths were “suspected drug use.”

Reddick said the death prompted “a lot of tips” to his department, and on Sunday police seized “a large number of pills believed to be fentanyl.”

“The investigation is ongoing and criminal charges will be filed,” the release said.

Police also shared pictures of the colorful pills they seized, advising residents who see drugs or pills that look like they’ve been tampered with to immediately call 911. They also urged residents to dispose of illegal drugs immediately.

“Municipal officials are asking for extra vigilance,” the release said.

‘We didn’t escape, it just took us longer to get here’

Melinda Munson, co-publisher of Skagway News, calling this past weekend the worst he has ever experienced in society, “and the biggest learning curve.”

The state of Alaska has been grappling with the highest number of overdose deaths in recent years. It saw the largest US increase in drug overdose deaths by state from 2020 to 2021, with the largest number of deaths involving fentanyl, or methamphetamines.

But Skagway seems relatively unaffected, so far. Munson said there aren’t many ways for illegal drugs to get into remote coastal communities — they have to be by mail, by boat or across the Canadian border.

“I think everybody has escaped, you know, a big problem nationwide and internationally. But we didn’t escape it, it just took longer to get here. It’s here now,” Munson said.

“There’s a lot of fear in the city right now. A lot of worry, a lot of concern, a lot of sadness.”

The community is usually quiet and tight in the winter months, and busy in the summer cruise-ships. The mayor estimates there are about 600 to 700 people living in the city now, and says that number is expected to double in the next few months with some seasonal residents already arriving.

Cremata said that despite the weekend pill seizure, local officials have reason to believe there are “more.”

“I definitely think that, you know, it’s more of a low-level casual use type situation here — because we haven’t seen overdoses and, you know, crime or other issues that you might see in the larger community,” Cremata said.

“But things have changed. So now I believe we have a bigger problem than we know.”