Fentanyl deaths in Colorado dropped last year, but still inflicted a severe economic toll, says a new report by the Common Sense Institute (CSI), a free-enterprise think tank.
Fentanyl-related deaths in Colorado “dropped from 1,184 in December 2023 to 801 in November 2024, a 32.4 percent reduction, but that’s still well above death rates before 2020,” reported Derek Draplin in the Kiowa County Press.
CSI estimates that “the total cost of fentanyl-related overdose deaths in Colorado is on par with 2022 at $13.1 billion in 2024 – approximately $2,220 per Coloradan.”
Though last year’s overdose rates and their associated economic impacts are trending downward, “they are still highly elevated compared to any point before 2020. This mirrors the development of Colorado’s crime rate generally, which has recently improved from 2022 but remains far above the norm set in the previous decade.”
OTHER KEY FINDINGS
Fentanyl-related overdose deaths have declined since the passage of HB22-1326, the Fentanyl Accountability and Prevention Act. The legislation was a response to rising fentanyl overdose deaths in the state.
Colorado’s Drug Overdose Competitive Index is still higher (30th) than it has been since 2015. This is due to increased drug overdose per capita in Colorado and improvements in other states.
CSI recommends that policymakers consider reverting to the effective drug laws that imposed stronger criminal penalties for the possession of any amount of drugs like methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin. “While the state made some strides in strengthening fentanyl possession laws with the passage of HB22-1326, the law fails to address other hard drugs that often contribute to overdoses,” the report says. The authorities should be “proactive in anticipating whatever drug will eventually replace fentanyl,” and “adopt a robust public health strategy with rigorous tracking criteria aimed at reducing fentanyl-related overdoses.”
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is up to fifty times stronger than heroin and one hundred times stronger than morphine. Its misuse is a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the United States. As the CSI report explains, “fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths. Even in small doses, it can be deadly. Over 150 people die every day [nationally] from overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl.”
According to the latest data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, there were 222 fentanyl-related deaths in 2019, 540 in 2020, 912 in 2021, 920 in 2022, and 1,097 in 2023. The total number of drug overdose deaths decreased 15.7 percent from 1,935 in November 2023 to 1,631 in November 2024.
OPIOID USE DISORDER
Opioids such as fentanyl and heroin can produce feelings of euphoria that make it more likely that people will continue to misuse opioids, despite severe negative consequences such as addiction and death. Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a serious condition requiring treatment.
NRT Behavioral Health treatment programs, including Foundry Front Range and Foundry Steamboat, strive to make addiction treatment as accessible as possible. Every person with addiction deserves effective medical care. When it comes to behavioral healthcare, the ability of your treatment provider to understand your needs, provide effective therapies, and identify the specific resources that will help you maintain health and recovery after treatment is vital to your success.
If you or a loved one needs help, please contact us at (720) 807-7867.
