Some Things to Know About Opioids in Washington State

Lawmakers in Washington state get a huge chunk of their campaign cash from donors with ties to the prescription painkiller business.

A joint investigation by The Associated Press and the Center for Public Integrity found that drugmakers that produce opioid painkillers and allied advocacy groups spent more than $880 million on campaign contributions and lobbying nationwide over the past decade. The money comes from members of the Pain Control Forum — a group that touts prescription opioids as having a vital role in improving the quality of life for millions of Americans.

By comparison, groups advocating for limits on opioid prescribing spent about $4 million nationwide.

Washington ranks second in the nation for the amount of money coming from the painkiller industry and its allies compared to all donations.