Snohomish jail 'de facto' detox center as heroin use in county increases

EVERETT, Wash. (AP) — Snohomish County officials say inmate addiction to heroin and other opiates is the biggest health problem in the Everett jail.

The Daily Herald reports more than 90 percent of the 52 inmates locked up in the medical unit of the jail as of Monday were dangerously ill with withdrawal symptoms.

Use of the medical unit has skyrocketed since 2013. A new report says heroin has caused the jail to become Snohomish County's largest "de facto" detox center over the past two years.

The report was presented Monday to the County Council's law and justice committee. It describes the challenges the county faces in detaining and keeping safe a growing number of inmates sick from drugs.