Fentanyl-Related Prosecutions More Than Triple Since Pandemic
FLORENCE, AZ (August 21st, 2024) - The number of fentanyl-related prosecutions in Pinal County has more than tripled just since the Covid-19 pandemic, making awareness of the dangers and prevalence of the drug as important as ever.
Communities across the country continue to see huge influxes of fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid that is often mixed in deadly doses into other pills and substances. On Wednesday, August 21st, the Pinal County Attorney’s Office is joining agencies across the nation in marking National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day.
“We mourn for the many families devastated by this dangerous drug,” said County Attorney Kent Volkmer. “While our entire law enforcement community is working to stem the flow and hold dealers accountable, it is important for families to have difficult conversations and discourage our youth from taking pills or substances provided at parties or by friends. At this point, you never know what they really contain."
National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day is a chance to recognize the impact the drug has had on communities. The Pinal County Attorney’s Office has worked to highlight real-life Arizona stories, as the mothers of Kaylie Tallant and Alexander Neville have bravely shared in order to help prevent others from feeling their pain.
Fentanyl is increasingly prevalent all across the United States. In Pinal County, annual prosecutions related to fentanyl more than tripled between 2020 and 2023.
Fentanyl-related prosecutions pertaining to sale, transportation and possession totaled:
2020: 119
2021: 208
2022: 356
2023: 377
According to the Arizona Department of Health Services roughly 2,000 people died of a confirmed opioid overdose each of the past four years. Naloxone, also known as Narcan, can reverse an Opioid overdose. You can obtain Narcan at a Pinal County Public Health Clinic.
###
