SPOKANE, Wash. – The Spokane County Board of Commissioners took a significant step today in addressing the ongoing opioid crisis in the area.
During their regularly scheduled Legislative Session, they unanimously approved two initiatives aimed at tackling the issue, the county said in a release.
The first initiative is a Co-Responder Program in collaboration with the Spokane Fire Department to provide immediate support and intervention for individuals experiencing opioid-related emergencies.
This initiative will pair behavioral health professionals from Frontier Behavioral Health with first responders to better serve the community.
Mary Kuney, Chair of the Spokane County Board of Commissioners, emphasized the program’s significance, stating it will enable “more effective, compassionate care to those in crisis.”
The program is funded by the Mental Health Sales Tax and is set to launch later this year.
The second initiative involves the expansion of the Sobering Triage and Transitions (STaT) program through the Spokane Treatment and Recovery Services (STARS). This expansion will increase accessibility to treatment options for those struggling with opioid addiction, the county said in the release.
The Board of Commissioners allocated an additional $400,000 from opioid settlement funds, totaling $600,000 annually, to support the program’s expansion. The City of Spokane has also committed $400,000 for 2026 to further increase capacity.
“Spokane County is making investments that will have an immediate impact on the community. Our goal is to fill key gaps in the behavioral health system and implement real solutions to address the urgent need for more treatment and services,” Kuney said.
Spokane County Community Services Director Justin Johnson praised the joint investment. “The successful expansion of the Sobering, Triage, and Transition (STaT) program marks a major milestone in Spokane County’s comprehensive response to addressing the opioid and substance use crisis impacting our region,” Johnson stated.
Since its launch in December 2024, the STaT program has served over 500 individuals, diverting them from emergency departments and the criminal legal system. Approximately 80% of participants successfully transitioned to another level of care. The program’s recidivism rate stands at only 8% for returning sobering admissions, the county said.
With continued support, the county said the STaT program is set to double its capacity, allowing up to 24 individuals to be served simultaneously.
