Issue Position: Reversing the Opioid Crisis

Issue Position

Opioids are now the leading cause of accidental deaths in Washington State. Snohomish is one of the counties hit hardest and it grows worse. However, Snohomish County's program of providing Naloxone to first responders is effectively preventing overdose deaths.

Our families and communities continue to be devastated by the consequences of addiction and preventable opioid deaths. It is crucial that city, county, and state agencies coordinate and recognize the opioid crisis as a health problem and treat it as a medical condition rather than a crime.

In 2018, I co-sponsored a bill to addressing this crisis. The Supplemental Budget passed by the 2018 Legislature funds treatment programs, distribution of Naloxone, development of an overdose monitoring system, and increased treatment programs.

I applaud Snohomish County's excellent Opioid Project, the City of Everett's lawsuit against Purdue Pharma, and the City of Seattle and King County's effort to provide a safe injection sites.

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