Washington receives federal funding to combat opioid epidemic

Washington will receive nearly $12 million from the federal government to fight the opioid epidemic that is spreading across the state and nation. The number of King County deaths related to prescription pain relievers and heroin have tripled since 2009, while King County heroin-related deaths in 2014 hit their highest levels in 20 years, local officials have said. Washington's grant was one of 57 grants totaling $485 million awarded last week through the Department of Health and Human Services…