OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Governor Jay Inslee has signed several bills into law to address the opioid crisis in Washington.

Gov. Inslee spoke at the Tulalip Resort Tuesday before passing new laws to combat what he deemed to be a dire problem for the state.

“Fentanyl is a scourge in the state of Washington,” Inslee said. “It is the nuclear weapon of opiates that are attacking our young and not-so-young people.”

One such law will require all school districts to keep at least one set of opioid overdose reversal medication in each of its public schools. Another will establish a statewide overdose prevention and education campaign for both youth and adults.

Gov. Inslee emphasized the need for a multifaceted response that attacks the epidemic in several ways.

“We know there is no one solution to this problem,” Gov. Inslee said. “It’s not just treatment. It’s not just education. It’s not just law enforcement. It’s not just therapy. It is all of these things.”

An additional law he signed will create a tribal opioid prevention and treatment account. It sets aside at least 20% of money the state receives from opioid settlements with pharmacies to be put towards support services for tribal communities.

Gov. Inslee thanked tribal communities across Washington for pressing the rest of the state to adopt new legislature to combat the opioid crisis. He has until March 31 to either sign or veto bills sent to him by the legislature, or they will automatically become law.

Meanwhile, Whatcom County, Bellingham, Ferndale and Lynden will get a sizable share of $55 million to combat the opioid crisis. A sizable allotment of the March settlement funds come from a bulk payment by Walmart.

Washington saw the highest rate increase of opioid deaths in the country from March 2022 to March 2023. The Whatcom County Council also considered calling for a state of emergency related to the opioid epidemic in the county last month. And U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen released a report in January detailing the extent of the opioid crisis in the county.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson said the funds are a monthly payment from a settlement he negotiated with opioid manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies.

Whatcom County will receive almost $6.5 million, Bellingham $3.5 million, Lynden $408,000 and Ferndale $319,000. The funds must be used to combat the opioid epidemic.

Ferguson rejected a national settlement and said his independent agreements with the opioid industry have netted the state $200 million more that it would have provided.