The intersection of 12th Avenue South and South Jackson Street in Seattle’s Little Saigon has become a symbol of the city’s struggle with drug addiction, homelessness, and the illegal street economy. While the people who gather here shift daily, the presence of fentanyl use and an underground market remains constant.
For over a decade, 12th and Jackson has been a hub for buying and using fentanyl, a highly addictive and potent opioid, as well as selling stolen goods. The area’s transformation into a persistent “hot spot” for crime and drug-related activity has drawn the attention of residents, business owners, law enforcement, and city officials alike.
A Neighborhood in Crisis
Despite its cultural significance and vibrant immigrant roots, Little Saigon has endured escalating challenges. Nearby restaurants and shops have either shuttered or installed heavy security measures to withstand the instability. Hoa Mai Park, created as a revitalization effort, has instead become an extension of the street’s informal economy.
According to the Seattle city auditor’s office, the area surrounding 12th and Jackson recorded one of the city’s highest combined totals of drug overdoses and crimes against people in a one-year span—109 incidents in total.
The rise of fentanyl has played a major role in worsening the crisis. Unlike heroin, fentanyl’s effects wear off quickly, causing severe withdrawal symptoms within hours. People who use fentanyl often need multiple doses per day to avoid the debilitating effects of withdrawal, which include extreme pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and impaired vision.
As Jayden, a 22-year-old who frequented the area, described it: “It’s like your body is attacking itself. You feel pain all over, and everything is a blur.”
The Underground Economy
The corner’s underground economy functions with its own rhythm. Individuals trade stolen household items—ranging from laundry detergent and ground coffee to clothing—for quick cash. These items are often purchased by residents from lower-income backgrounds looking for bargains. With the money, users can then buy fentanyl from mobile dealers who circulate regularly.
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Though previous crackdowns, such as the Seattle Police’s 2022 initiative, temporarily disrupted illegal activity, the market inevitably resurged after enforcement waned.
City Response and New Legislation
The enduring nature of the crisis prompted City Attorney Ann Davison to propose the SODA (Stay Out of Drug Area) law, aimed at barring individuals charged or convicted of drug-related crimes from high-impact zones like 12th and Jackson. Although the law passed and established six such zones across Seattle, enforcement has been minimal so far.
In a renewed push, Mayor Bruce Harrell launched a strategy in late 2024 focused on consistent police presence, sidewalk cleaning, and outreach efforts in Little Saigon. Early 2025 data from the mayor’s office indicated progress: a 51% rise in felony arrests and a 34% drop in high-priority 911 calls in the neighborhood.
Still, many individuals simply shift to nearby streets when enforcement ramps up, and the root causes of addiction and homelessness remain.
Outreach, Treatment, and Hope
Organizations like REACH are working on the front lines, offering daily support to people in the area. In 2024 alone, REACH staff connected over 800 individuals with resources, from shelter referrals to help obtaining identification and overdose prevention training. Twenty-six people began substance-use treatment with their assistance.
Andrew Constantino of REACH said the situation at 12th and Jackson isn’t just about drug use—it’s the cumulative result of societal failures across health care, housing, foster care, and social services.
“We tend to label this as homelessness,” he said, “but it’s really a collection point for systemic neglect.”
Fentanyl addiction remains particularly hard to treat due to the drug’s rapid withdrawal cycle. However, experts like University of Washington epidemiologist Caleb Banta-Green see promise in recent medical advancements. High-dose methadone and buprenorphine can now better manage withdrawal, and long-acting injectable versions offer month-long relief by blocking opioid receptors.
“We need to make treatment faster, easier, and more accessible than fentanyl,” Banta-Green emphasized. “If fentanyl is just a few dollars and a few minutes away, our interventions must beat that.”
A Long Road Ahead
While recent efforts have shown early signs of success, those involved on the ground caution against viewing them as definitive solutions. As long as addiction, poverty, and trauma continue to shape the lives of those at 12th and Jackson, the intersection will likely remain a battleground in Seattle’s ongoing struggle with its most entrenched crises.
