(The Center Square) – U.S. Representative Suzan Delbene, D-Wash., announced nearly $1.3 million in federal funds for the establishment of a substance use treatment program at the Kirkland City Jail.
The announcement states that the $1.3 million comes from a federal source, but no further details on the funding are readily available.
Delbene’s announcement comes as the City of Kirkland sees an increase in drug and narcotic violations occurring since 2021. The number of drug violations increased 61% from 2020 (64) to 2021 (103). In 2022, there were 167 violations.
Through the first six months of 2023, the Kirkland Police Department recorded 76 drug and narcotic violations, according to data presented to the Kirkland City Council on Sept. 19.
The city intends to use the federal funds to create an evidence-based substance abuse program that includes screenings, on-site treatment, and reentry planning for inmates with drug use issues.
According to the press release, the program aims to reduce repeat offenses, overdose cases and the impacts of substance use in the Kirkland community.
“People in our jails and prisons are disproportionately living with substance use issues while also lacking the critical support needed to address these conditions,” Delbene said in a Saturday statement. “This new program in Kirkland will help provide incarcerated people with the necessary tools to combat the disease of addiction and better prepare them to reintegrate into society.”
Kirkland Mayor Penny Sweet said that the funding is part of a broader initiative to “bridge the gap between public safety and public health.”
“We all know our region is experiencing a drug crisis … this important grant will support the city of Kirkland in preventing opioid use disorder and overdose deaths for community members awaiting their due process through our legal system,” Sweet said.
King County has seen an alarming increase in drug overdoses. Statistics show the number of drug overdose deaths county-wide increased from 417 in 2019 to 1,000 in 2022, a 140% increase.
As of Monday, there have been 960 reported drug overdoses in King County this year.
