Concerning spike in overdose deaths prompts urgent action from Spokane leaders

SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. — Spokane County is experiencing an alarming rise in overdose deaths, prompting city and county leaders to take unprecedented collaborative action to combat the opioid crisis.

Data presented at Friday’s joint meeting between the Spokane City Council and County Commissioners revealed that overdose deaths have surged by 300% in Spokane County since 2018. In 2024 alone, these deaths account for approximately 5% of all deaths in the region.

“Spokane is outpacing the state average, and our state is outpacing the national average,” said Maggie Yates, City of Spokane Deputy City Administrator. “It really remains an acute and real issue for people in our community.”

The meeting itself highlighted the severity of the situation. County Commissioner Chair Mary Kuney noted that this joint session might be one of the only such gatherings in recent history, underscoring how concerning the overdose problem has become for local officials.

The county has nearly $40 million in opioid settlement funds available to address the crisis. According to Yates, medicated assisted treatment and sobering beds have been identified as key priorities in the fight against overdose deaths.

Justin Johnson, Spokane County Director of Community Services, pointed to a critical gap in the current system: the lack of immediate access to treatment.

“A common theme we find is that there are no places to take people immediately when they determine the need for recovery,” Johnson explained. “If you have a family member who says ‘I want to receive care now,’ you’ve got to call a place, you’ve got to hope that they receive them. They have to do an assessment, and then you may have to wait two weeks.”

Johnson emphasized that the goal is to eliminate this barrier entirely, ensuring people can access crisis relief and help immediately when they’re ready for treatment.

The proposal presented by Yates and Johnson includes a long-term project to build a sobering center expansion to the existing Crisis Stabilization Center. This two-year project has a tentative completion date in spring 2027.

With overdose deaths continuing to rise at rates exceeding both state and national averages, officials hope this collaborative effort and significant funding will help reverse the deadly trend.