According to data from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, Washington State had the biggest increase in drug overdose deaths of any state in the latest 12-month reporting period which ended on January 31st. Overdose deaths soared 24 percent, by far the largest increase in the nation.
Chelan County Sergeant Rob Huddleston says he's not surprised by that report, adding that there's been a huge spike in overdose deaths in the Chelan Valley, most of it due to Fentanyl use.
Huddleston blames the changes in laws on drug possession and use, saying there's a lack of accountability that's needed to address the problem:
What's even more troubling about the CDC report is that while Washington saw a 24 percent rise in overdose deaths, 25 states saw overdose deaths decrease during that same 12-month period.