OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Washington saw the highest increase in drug overdose deaths of any state in the country last year.

That’s according to data from the CDC that shows reported year-over-year overdose deaths in the state increased by nearly 600 cases. Or 25%, from March 2022 to March 2023.

No other state saw an increase of more than 20%.

Washington’s rise in overdose deaths was nearly 10 percentage points higher than the next-highest state, which was Nevada at 16.5%.

Virginia saw the most favorable change, with 26% less deaths.

The current number of overdose deaths in Washington over the past year are more than double what they were in May 2020.