Executive Somers Announces Overall Goals and Near-Term Strategies to Address Drug Use Crisis, Including a Mobile Opioid Treatment Program

Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers has put forth a strategic plan to confront the region's drug use crisis, developed in partnership with various local stakeholders, including elected officials and service providers. This initiative includes the establishment of a Mobile Opioid Treatment Program designed to provide immediate access to safe medications and therapies in high-priority areas. Somers, who lost his brother to a fentanyl overdose, expresses a personal commitment to combating the devastating effects of drug misuse. The MAC Group has outlined seven goals aimed at reducing drug-related deaths, expanding treatment options, and increasing community awareness while reducing stigma. A significant element of the plan is the enhancement of prevention education in local schools, which is crucial given the alarming rise in opioid overdose fatalities.

The Executive Directive mandates a clear timeline for the implementation of these strategies, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. Somers also highlights the necessity of securing additional funding from state and federal sources to sustain these efforts. With these comprehensive strategies, Snohomish County aims to make meaningful strides in addressing substance use disorder and its wide-ranging impacts on the community.