Whatcom County calls on Inslee, Biden to declare a fentanyl emergency

Whatcom County Council is requesting the state and federal governments declare a fentanyl emergency. A resolution unanimously approved Jan. 9 at the council meeting asks Gov. Jay Inslee to declare a state emergency to address the opioid and fentanyl crisis, while partnering with the Legislature to rapidly reassess a response; and a second requests President Joe Biden and Congress to declare a national emergency. County data indicates 132 suspected or confirmed overdose deaths in 2023