Fentanyl

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

What Idaho’s evolving opioid epidemic looks like today and what efforts are being made to combat it.

The rate of overdose deaths in Idaho related to the synthetic opioid fentanyl roughly tripled from 2020 to 2022, according to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.

Two federal investigations led to the arrest of 25 people with charges ranging from possession and distribution of drugs.

Idaho Matters takes a look at the news that made headlines this week, including the verdict of the Lori Vallow Daybell trial, how the Fentanyl crisis is affecting Idaho and why volenteer numbers are dropping everywhere except the Mountain West.

Gov. Brad Little marked National Fentanyl Awareness Day as opioid related deaths have nearly doubled in Idaho in the last decade.

Harm Reduction advocates are speaking out against a bill redefining who can receive free opioid reversal kits from the state.

Supporters of the bill point to the increase in opioid overdoses in Idaho as a reason mandatory minimums should be implemented, while opponents say minimum sentences haven't been proven to reduce drug use or prevent more overdose deaths.

Idaho is not immune to the effects of of the fentanyl crisis.

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.