Overdose statistics getting worse

OLYMPIA - New statistics from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show Washington’s fatal drug-overdose situation is even grimmer than a month ago, says Sen. Mike Padden, the lead Republican on the Senate Law and Justice Committee.

For the third straight month, the CDC has issued a report that finds Washington having the negative distinction of seeing the fastest drug-overdose death rate increase of any state in the country.

But, according to the latest CDC report, Washington now leads the country not just in the percentage increase in deaths, but also the number of increase...