fentanyl

Washington state health officials say new data shows the number of people dying from drug overdoses continues to rise. The Washington Department of Health said in a news release Tuesday that drug-related overdose deaths in the state topped 2,000 in 2021, a more than 66% increase compared to 2019. Officials say more than half of the deaths are because of fentanyl.

The leaders of one of Washington state's most significant illegal drug operations have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms. They ran a backyard pill-pressing operation with fentanyl powder they ordered from China beginning in 2015 — just as the synthetic opioid was taking hold as a cheaper, more powerful and more deadly alternative to heroin.

Health officials say fatal overdoses in King County have increased sharply over the last two weeks. The Medical Examiner's Office has identified 42…

King County Public Health officials are contacting needle exchange programs, treatment clinics and emergency rooms to alert people to the dangers of…