fentanyl

A new report shows that death rates for people under 40 are surging across the United States, including parts of the Mountain West.

Synthetic opioids like fentanyl are increasing nonfatal and fatal drug overdoses nationwide. In 2022, Wyoming reported that 93 people died from a drug overdose. Fourty-eight of those involved fentanyl. After months of investigations, requesting data, and coming up dry, WyoFile reporter Madelyn Beck has come out with a four part series on what data the state collects and how that data is lacking. Wyoming Public Radio’s Kamila Kudelska asked what was the question that started it all.

With fentanyl-related deaths in Wyoming rising, all ten of the Wyoming Highway Patrol’s narcotic detection dogs are nationally certified to detect fentanyl in hopes of fighting the ongoing crisis.

Fentanyl-related deaths in Wyoming have been on the rise since 2015. There were 106 overdose deaths in 2021 alone. Wyoming Public Radio’s Sage Davis spoke with Melissa Hunter, the drug information director at the University of Wyoming (UW) to understand just how dangerous fentanyl can be.

Fentanyl is a large contributor to the opioid crisis. Fentanyl-related deaths in Wyoming have been on the rise since 2015, with 106 overdose deaths in 2021.

Some campaign commercials and mailers in our region are mentioning the deadly drug fentanyl and border security. According to experts, though, that may be oversimplifying the deadly issue.

The highway patrol now has 12, K-9 units to handle narcotics and explosives. Two for explosives and ten for marijuana, cocaine, heroine, and now fentanyl.

New research in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that teens haven't used more illegal drugs over the last decade. However, they are dying from drug overdoses at twice the rate.