The Washington State Attorney
General’s Office, Washington State Patrol and the Washington Association of
Prosecuting Attorneys have issued a 29-page report with seven recommended goals
to reduce illegal opioid use.
So far, the report’s
recommendations have called on actions by medical and dental professionals,
government entities such as DSHS, and the public.
The fourth goal focuses on law
enforcement actions to “interdict” the illicit drug trade. The goal is to disrupt
and dismantle drug trafficking organizations responsible for bringing narcotics
into our state. Under this goal the report has one recommendation, restore
resources for multi-jurisdictional drug-gang task forces.
The report notes that
multi-jurisdictional drug task forces work to reduce illicit drugs in the
community. It highlights recent results from task forces in Grant County and
Grays Harbor County.
Drug-gang task forces are
federally, and state funded. State funding has declined from $1.6 million in
2006 to $0 starting in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Federal funding has had its ups and
downs since 2000. In 2010, Washington State task forces received $6.6 million,
while between 2011 through 2017 Washington State task forces received a yearly
average of just over $3 million.
Three task forces have disbanded
bringing the total of task forces in Washington to 17. Other task forces have
limited their operations to match reduced budgets.
Snohomish County has two multi-agency
drug task forces, the Snohomish Regional Drug and Gang Task Force and the South
Snohomish County Narcotics Task Force.
For the complete report, go to,
Washington State Attorney General’s Office:
The first goal is to increase
public awareness about the dangers of opioids (http://ssnoccrimewatch.blogspot.com/2017/11/opioid-crisis-washington-states-response.html).
The second goal is to prevent
addiction by curtailing overprescribing (http://ssnoccrimewatch.blogspot.com/2017/11/opioid-crisis-washington-states.html).
The third goal is to reduce the
illicit use of prescription opioids http://ssnoccrimewatch.blogspot.com/2017/11/opioid-crisis-washington-states_30.html.
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