The following is a release from Snohomish County:

The Snohomish County Executive and Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office released the following statement Friday after the White House Office of Drug Control Policy recognized Snohomish County for their innovative efforts to prevent overdose deaths from opioids.

“The heroin and opiate epidemic has devastated too many families in our community, and our new project is the best kind of collaboration for a very difficult issue,” said Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers. “By bringing together law enforcement, lifesaving drugs, and social services, we can begin to save lives and give people the chance to heal. With great teamwork, Snohomish County is showing the country how to address this crisis.”

“Law enforcement’s success in fighting the heroin epidemic and, more importantly, saving lives in Snohomish County is the direct result of strong partnerships across the county and support from HITDA.” said Sheriff Ty Trenary.  “We have seen firsthand that naloxone is an incredibly powerful tool for our sheriff’s deputies, especially those who serve remote areas of the county where services are not always quickly available.”

At least twenty-five people have been saved from dying of heroin and/or opiate overdose in Snohomish County since training law enforcement in the use of naloxone began in May of 2015.  The first reported save was by a Snohomish County Sheriff’s deputy of a Lake Stevens man on May 8, just days after the deputy had received training and the overdose kit.