County councilman proposes banning safe injection sites

Nate Nehring says county officials also should find “credible, long-term solutions to addiction.”

Nate Nehring (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Nate Nehring (Dan Bates / The Herald)

EVERETT — Snohomish County Councilman Nate Nehring is pushing a ban of safe injection sites for drug addicts, like those officials in Seattle have been pursuing.

The District 1 councilman drafted an emergency ordinance targeting “community health engagement locations,” the bureaucratic term for the sites. The temporary ban would apply to unincorporated areas of Snohomish County.

“Safe injection sites enable drug addiction and I don’t believe it’s acceptable to use taxpayer dollars on efforts which encourage the use of illegal drugs and do nothing to solve the problem of addiction,” Nehring said in a news release. “There is no safe way to inject heroin. We need to instead be looking at efforts which help these individuals turn their lives around for the better.”

Officials in Seattle and King County have been working to create safe injection sites, but other communities, including Bellevue, have moved to ban them. The King County-Seattle Board of Health voted unanimously in January to endorse the sites, which officials there said would be the first of their kind in the nation. Safe injection sites, or locations where people would be supervised while using heroin, were part of more than 30 recommendations by King County’s Heroin and Prescription Opiate Addiction Task Force.

No such proposals are under consideration in Snohomish County or Everett.

Nehring intends to seek a permanent ban on safe injection sites. The longer-term proposal would have to go through the county Planning Commission, which would provide policy recommendations to the County Council for a final decision.

“The emergency moratorium is a temporary move that will allow us to take the time to deliberate a permanent ban and get the public’s input,” he said. “I look forward to working with my fellow council members to find credible, long-term solutions to addiction and the problems that come with it.”

Nehring, a Republican from Stanwood, was appointed to his job earlier this year. He is running for election in November against Democrat Ray Miller to represent the council’s District 1, which covers Marysville, Arlington, Granite Falls, Stanwood, Darrington and surrounding communities.

Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @NWhaglund.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

Snohomish County Health Department Director Dennis Worsham on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County Health Department director tapped as WA health secretary

Dennis Worsham became the first director of the county health department in January 2023. His last day will be July 3.

Police Cmdr. Scott King answers questions about the Flock Safety license plate camera system on Thursday, June 5, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mountlake Terrace approves Flock camera system after public pushback

The council approved the $54,000 license plate camera system agreement by a vote of 5-2.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Gold Bar in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Lynnwood man dies in fatal crash on US 2 near Gold Bar

The Washington State Patrol said the driver was street racing prior to the crash on Friday afternoon.

Thousands gather to watch fireworks over Lake Ballinger from Nile Shrine Golf Course and Lake Ballinger Park on Thursday, July 3, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Thousands ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ at Mountlake Terrace fireworks show

The city hosts its Independence Day celebrations the day before the July 4 holiday.

Liam Shakya, 3, waves at a float passing by during the Fourth of July Parade on Friday, July 4, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett celebrates Fourth of July with traditional parade

Thousands celebrated Independence Day by going to the annual parade, which traveled through the the city’s downtown core.

Ian Saltzman
Everett Public Schools superintendent wins state award

A group of school administrators named Ian Saltzman as a top educational leader.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.