City of Kirkland offers drug treatment services to jail inmates

KIRKLAND, Wash. — Kirkland has its own struggles with the fentanyl crisis, and now the city is trying to break the cycle of crime and addiction by offering drug treatment to jail inmates.

Kirkland may not have the open drug use that plagues other cities, but police say opioids have made terrible inroads into the community, and they see the impacts every day.

“Fentanyl is by far the most common. Heroin as well,” said Kirkland Police Department Lt. Shawn Stredwick, who oversees the city jail.

Earlier this year, the jail began offering drug treatment services to anyone who is booked into the facility. So far, 10 inmates have enrolled in the comprehensive program, and four are currently participating.

The program includes screenings, on-site treatment, support services, and reentry planning for incarcerated people with substance use issues. People who are actively using opioids can be given medications like buprenorphine, which can reduce the devastating withdrawal systems of a fentanyl addiction. Counseling and other therapies can follow.

“I think it's terrific,” said Vicki Read, a Kirkland resident. “I think that they've got to do something. They have to be treated. We want them to get out of this cycle."

Drug addiction can be a factor in other crimes, and Kirkland police said offering help while people are in custody can potentially keep them from stealing or victimizing others in the future.

“Our goal is to prevent them being in a situation where they come back to us,” Stredwick said.

Many of the county-run jails in the region already offer drug treatment services. King County said about 10-12 percent of the more than 1,300 inmates currently in custody are enrolled in similar programs.

Kirkland is matching those efforts with its jail population. The city is also offering referrals once inmates are released into the community to better support drug users who want to stay clean and out of jail.

“I anticipate that we will see great benefit from this,” Stredwick said.

The substance use program is funded by $1.3 million that was secured by Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (D-Medina) through a federal grant. That money will cover the costs of the drug treatment services for the next three years. After that, Kirkland has the option to re-apply for that grant.