As drug-related deaths in Spokane County continue to increase, so have the city of Spokane’s efforts to combat the issue.
According to death certificate data gathered by The Spokane Regional Opioid Task Force, the county saw 315 drug-related deaths in 2024, compared to 77 in 2018. Maggie Yates, deputy city administrator of Spokane, said the city has created several new positions, programs and investments in recent months and that while it’s “too early to tell” their efficacy, she’s seen some “promising results.”
“I think everyone knows someone – directly or indirectly – that’s been touched by this epidemic,” Yates said. “We understand and recognize that this is an urgent and acute issue, and the city is working very aggressively to respond accordingly.”…