(The Center Square) – As overdoses rise and 1,800 people remain homeless, Spokane Regional Health Officer Bob Lutz argued Tuesday that taxpayers must bear some of the costs to maintain public safety.
Lutz emphasized the effectiveness of “harm reduction” strategies on Tuesday while providing an opioid treatment presentation to the Spokane City Council. It follows the deadliest year on record in terms of overdoses in Spokane County, with Medical Examiner Dr. Veena Singh recording more than 350 in 2024.
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Kayla Cross compared using sunscreen and wearing seatbelts to offering hypodermic needle exchanges and naloxone. She and Lutz also highlighted a list of services, including medication-assisted treatment, supervised consumption sites, drop-in centers, “Housing First” and more…