Washington Gov. Jay Inslee speaks Friday at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. Inslee announced an executive order to fight the rising abuse of opioids in Washington state. (Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press)

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee speaks Friday at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. Inslee announced an executive order to fight the rising abuse of opioids in Washington state. (Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press)

Gov. Inslee issues order on fight against opioid abuse

The order calls for efforts to prevent overdose deaths, including expanding access to naloxone, a medication used to counter overdose effects.

SEATTLE — Gov. Jay Inslee has issued an executive order to boost efforts to prevent and treat opioid abuse in the state.

Inslee ordered state agencies to work with local public health, tribal and other officials to prevent unnecessary prescribing of addictive painkillers and expand treatment for those addicted to opioids.

The order issued Friday calls for efforts to prevent overdose deaths, including expanding access to naloxone, a medication used to counter overdose effects.

Last year, 718 people died from opioid overdoses in Washington state, according to state officials.

More people die in accidental deaths from heroin and prescription painkiller overdoses than from vehicle or firearm-related deaths, they said. Prescription opioid drug deaths have gone down, but fatalities from heroin overdoses are rising, particularly among young people.

Inslee announced the executive order at a news conference at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, where he was joined by medical providers, law enforcement officials, patients and family members who have been affected by opioid abuse.

“We all have an important role to play in the statewide movement to fight one of the most devastating crises facing our communities today: the public health crisis of opioids and heroin,” Inslee said in a prepared statement.

Inslee also called for using data to better detect misuse and monitor for overdose deaths. The Department of Health, working with others, will monitor prescribing practices to spot variations in how often painkillers are prescribed so that health providers and others can intervene.

“Opioid use disorder is a preventable and treatable chronic disease, much like diabetes or heart disease, and needs to be treated as such,” Secretary of Health John Wiesman said in a prepared statement.

The state agencies must submit a progress report by the end of the year.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee speaks Friday at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. Inslee announced an executive order to fight the rising abuse of opioids in Washington state. (Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press)

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee speaks Friday at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. Inslee announced an executive order to fight the rising abuse of opioids in Washington state. (Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press)

Injectable and nasal forms of Naloxone, which can be used to block the potentially fatal effects of an opioid overdose, are shown Friday at an outpatient pharmacy at the University of Washington. (Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press)

Injectable and nasal forms of Naloxone, which can be used to block the potentially fatal effects of an opioid overdose, are shown Friday at an outpatient pharmacy at the University of Washington. (Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press)

A vial of Naloxone, which can be used to block the potentially fatal effects of an opioid overdose, is shown Friday at an outpatient pharmacy at the University of Washington. (Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press)

A vial of Naloxone, which can be used to block the potentially fatal effects of an opioid overdose, is shown Friday at an outpatient pharmacy at the University of Washington. (Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press)

Tess Nishida, a pain pharmacist at the University of Washington, poses for a photo Friday holding a vial of Naloxone, which can be used to block the potentially fatal effects of an opioid overdose, at an outpatient pharmacy at the university. (Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press)

Tess Nishida, a pain pharmacist at the University of Washington, poses for a photo Friday holding a vial of Naloxone, which can be used to block the potentially fatal effects of an opioid overdose, at an outpatient pharmacy at the university. (Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press)

Dr. Rosemary Orr, lower left, speaks at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle on Friday about the 2006 opioid overdose death of her son, Robin Rice. Orr spoke with Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, who announced an executive order to fight the rising abuse of opioids in Washington state. (Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press)

Dr. Rosemary Orr, lower left, speaks at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle on Friday about the 2006 opioid overdose death of her son, Robin Rice. Orr spoke with Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, who announced an executive order to fight the rising abuse of opioids in Washington state. (Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press)

More in News

Hurricane Ridge day lodge funding held up in Congress

The fate of $80 million in funding to rebuild… Continue reading

Judy Davidson, left, and Kathy Thomas, both of Port Townsend, look over the skin care products offered by Shandi Motsi of Port Townsend, one of the 20 vendors at the second annual Procrastinators Craft Fair at the Palindrome/Eaglemount Cidery on Friday. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Procrastinators Market

Judy Davidson, left, and Kathy Thomas, both of Port Townsend, look over… Continue reading

Services could be impacted by closure

Essential workers won’t get paid in shutdown

A now-deceased male cougar was confirmed by Panthera and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff to have been infected with Avian influenza on the Olympic Peninsula. (Powell Jones/Panthera)
Two cougars infected with bird flu die

Risk of human infection still low, CDC says

D
Readers contribute $58K to Home Fund to date

Donations can be made for community grants this spring

Jefferson Elementary School in Port Angeles designated Thursday dress up like a candy cane day. Back row, from left to right, they are: Wyatt Farman, Ari Ownby, Tayo Murdach, Chloe Brabant, Peyton Underwood, Lola Dixon, River Stella (in wheelchair), Fenja Garling, Tegan Brabant, Odessa Glaude, Eastyn Schmeddinger-Schneder. Front row: Ellie Schneddinger-Schneder, Cypress Crear, Bryn Christiansen and Evelyn Shrout. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Dress like a candy cane

Jefferson Elementary School in Port Angeles designated Thursday dress up like a… Continue reading

EYE ON THE PENINSULA: Jefferson commissioners to meet on Monday

Meetings across the North Olympic Peninsula

A 40-year-old Quilcene man died and a 7-year-old boy was airlifted to a Seattle hospital after the car in which they were riding collided with the back of a school bus on Center Road on Friday morning. (East Jefferson Fire Rescue)
One dies in two-vehicle collision involving school bus

A 40-year-old Quilcene man died and a 7-year-old boy was… Continue reading

Iris McNerney of from Port Townsend is like a pied piper at the Port Hudson Marina. When she shows up with a bag of wild bird seed, pigeons land and coo at her feet. McNerney has been feeding the pigeons for about a year and they know her car when she parks. Gulls have a habit of showing up too whenever a free meal is available. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Feeding the birds

Iris McNerney of from Port Townsend is like a pied piper at… Continue reading

Property purchase intended for housing

Port Angeles envisions 18 to 40 residents

Housing, climate top Port Townsend’s state agenda

City also prioritizes transportation, support at Fort Worden

Dennis Bauer gets emotional while testifying at his triple murder trial in January 2022. His conviction was overturned by the state Court of Appeals and remanded back to Clallam County. (Paul Gottlieb/Peninsula Daily News)
Appeals court overturns murder conviction

Three-judge panel rules Bauer did not receive fair trial