WA Senate passes bills to tackle opioids
By Dan Thesman on Thursday, February 15th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
OLYMPIA – A pair of bills that target the fast-rising rate of opioid addiction and overdose deaths passed this week in the Washington state Senate.
Senate Bill 5906 launches a public awareness campaign under the direction of the state Department of Health aimed at everyone, especially children. The campaign would provide information about the dangers of methamphetamine and opioids, with emphasis on fentanyl. It would also provide information about drug addiction, treatment programs, and state laws providing immunity for those who seek assistance in overdose cases.
Senate Bill 6099 funds tribal efforts for prevention, recovery, and treatment. It recognizes that Washington tribes are the hardest hit of any racial or ethnic population in the state.
The measure creates the Tribal Opioid Prevention and Treatment Account and funds it with money the state will receive from a national opioid settlement with drug manufacturers and distributors. Tribes would receive approximately 20 percent of the settlement money the state expects to receive over the next 17 years. Both bills passed the Senate unanimously and now move to the House.
