Gov. Inslee to seek $50M more toward opioid education, treatment

By Claire Withycombe / The Seattle Times

EVERETT — Gov. Jay Inslee said Monday he will ask for an additional $50 million in the current state budget to fight the opioid crisis.

Inslee announced the funding, which would be directed to expanding a range of efforts, including education about the risks of fentanyl and treating opioid use disorder, before he met with treatment providers, advocates, first responders and students at a new treatment program in Everett.

The Inslee administration is also looking into state regulations around allowing paramedics to provide an initial dose of certain medications approved for long-term treatment of opioid use disorder to people who have overdosed, in response to inquiries from first responders and providers at the event on Monday.

It’s not yet clear whether allowing that would require a change to state law.

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/gov-inslee-to-seek-50m-more-toward-opioid-education-treatment/