Seattle City Attorney hopes to prosecute public drug use and possession cases
The scourge of fentanyl has spread nationwide. However, a solution requires a local approach, especially when it comes to making arrests and prosecution.
Seattle to use nationwide opioid settlement funds to fight fentanyl crisis
Local health experts say areas in downtown and central Seattle are seeing the highest rates of fentanyl-related deaths in King County.
Lummi Nation hosts statewide tribal summit to address fentanyl crisis in Washington
Fentanyl is everyone’s problem, but the drug hits some communities much harder than others.
FDA approves nasal spray to reverse fentanyl, other opioid overdoses
U.S. health regulators on Monday approved a new easy-to-use version of a medication to reverse overdoses caused by fentanyl and other opioids driving the nation’s drug crisis.
Seattle officials want to prosecute drug possession and public drug use
Seattle elected officials proposed legislation that would allow the city attorney's office to charge and prosecute those who possess and use drugs in a public space.
Snohomish County taking steps to fight fentanyl
Money from a nationwide opioid settlement will fund a multi-pronged plan aimed at curbing addiction and overdoses in Snohomish County, especially when it comes to combating fentanyl use.
Rainbow fentanyl: Ohio AG warns of ‘death disguised as candy’
Authorities in Ohio are issuing another warning about the so-called “rainbow fentanyl" after hundreds of these pills were seized near Columbus.
Washington lawmakers pass bill keeping drugs illegal
Washington lawmakers approved a major new drug policy as they returned to work for a special session Tuesday, saying it strikes a balance between public order and compassion for those struggling with substance abuse.
Why a drug decriminalization crisis looms for Washington state lawmakers
If a new law is not passed, Washington would become the second state in the U.S., after Oregon, to decriminalize possession of personal-use amounts of drugs.
Snohomish County Sheriff's K-9 exposed to fentanyl, revived with Narcan
A Snohomish County Sheriff's Office Drug Task Force K-9 is recovering after being exposed to fentanyl while searching a home in Everett.
Everett man arrested 6 times for armed drug dealing sentenced to 10 years in prison
A Snohomish County man will spend the next 10 years in prison after he was convicted for drug trafficking around Puget Sound.
Snohomish County detectives investigate 1-year-old's death, suspect fentanyl exposure
Detectives are investigating the suspicious death of a child, and they suspect fentanyl exposure may have been a contributing factor.
Pills that kill: The difficulty of building a case for controlled substance homicides
In Washington state, you can be criminally responsible and charged with homicide if you supply a deadly dose of fentanyl. Controlled substance homicides are some of the hardest cases to build and even harder to prove in court. In Bellevue, every fatal overdose call is initially treated like a homicide.
King County voters approve Prop. 1 Crisis Care Centers Levy
Voters in King County have approved Prop. 1 to create five crisis care centers across the county to provide mental health and substance use disorder services.
Lummi Nation opens new outpatient treatment center for fentanyl addiction
In King County, the rate of overdose for American/Indian Alaska Native individuals is nine times higher than white individuals, according to Public Health – Seattle & King County.
Washington legislatures adjourn without reaching a solution on drug possession bill
A contentious bill on drug possession penalties failed to pass out of Washington State Legislature. With the current possession law expiring this summer, the risk of decriminalizing hard drugs in Washington is looming.
No fentanyl in candy that 'looks like mint gum' found at Bellingham middle school despite false positive
Bellingham Public Schools (BPS) announced on Friday that a staff member at one of its middle schools confiscated what appeared to be chewing gum or gummies from a student. After testing the gummies, Washington State Patrol found that the gummites had a false positive for fentanyl.
Fentanyl, meth account for half of about 1,000 drug-related deaths in King County in 2022
New data released by Public Health-Seattle & King County on Thursday suggests the region's opioid addiction is getting worse.
Lynnwood temporarily bans future substance abuse clinic applications
Lynnwood City Council passed an emergency ordinance that temporarily halts the acceptance of applications for substance abuse clinics within the city.
Ferndale PD: 3 arrested in 5-year-old's death after fentanyl was found in her blood
Three people were arrested in connection to the death of a five-year-old girl in Whatcom County after investigators discovered a fatal amount of fentanyl in her blood.