Methamphetamine a Rising Cause of Drug Overdoses

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Spokane police haven't busted a methamphetamine lab in at least three years. But meth is contributing to more drug overdose deaths than any other drug in Spokane County.

A report issued by the Spokane County Medical Examiner's office this week found fatal overdoses from meth increased from 29 in 2015 to 49 last year, a 69 percent jump.

The Spokesman-Review reported Thursday that accidental overdoses in Spokane County from all drugs rose from 82 in 2015 to 115 last year.

The newspaper says meth is a rarely-discussed contributor to soaring overdose death rates in Washington.

Public health officials say that's because people are using opioids in combination with meth.

Statewide, meth in 2015 contributed to 155 opioid overdoses. In 2010, methamphetamine was present in just 44 opioid overdoses.