BOISE, Idaho — Fentanyl overdose rates in Idaho are climbing at an alarming rate.
Health officials at the South Central Public Health District (SCPHD) are doing what they can to fight the fentanyl epidemic and prevent overdoses. SCPHD held a fentanyl awareness town hall on Thursday, Sept., in Burley, Idaho.
The forum was open to the public, and they shared a fentanyl documentary screening called “Dead on Arrival” by filmmaker Dominic Tierno. SCPHD also presented information about the dangers of fentanyl and provided resources available to the community.
The event was put on in partnership with Idaho Department of Education, Idaho State Police, and the Idaho Fentanyl Education Project at the Little Theater in the King Fine Arts Center.
SCPHD said for the past six years, fentanyl overdose deaths in Idaho have increased each year, almost reaching 200 last year, according to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.
Fentanyl can be legally prescribed by doctors, but most of Idaho’s overdoses are from illegal recreational drug use.
SCPHD talks about the need for education and awareness on the deadliness of fentanyl.
“Fentanyl and opioids themselves are kind of unique…it's a very lethal, scary drug, so that requires more aggressive measures…whether it's from law enforcement or treatment centers or the health department, you have to be very on top of it, because it's already been skyrocketing,” Health Education Specialist Eli Thompson of SCPHD told KTVB Thursday.
A primary strategy to combat fentanyl overdose is prevention.
Prevention is possible with education like working with treatment centers or first responders and teaching more people how to use Naxolone, commonly referred to as Narcan.
"Almost every overdose, for the most part, is accidental. But with fentanyl, it has skyrocketed a lot for quite a few factors, it's easier to access," Thompson said.
Additional community education can include programs for youth or government campaigns.
Fentanyl awareness initiatives, like SCHD’s, are proving to be successful. Their district covers parts of South-Central Idaho, including Blaine, Twin Falls, Jerome, and more, and now has the lowest fentanyl overdoses.