Fentanyl and opioids have saturated the Uintah Basin and the drug market across the state of Utah. In response, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration announced the first Utah Drug Overdose Task Force. According to the announcement, overdose deaths continue to rise with fentanyl as the primary catalyst. 603 Utahns died as a result of drug overdose in 2021 with 67% of Utah overdose deaths related to opioids and 29% related to fentanyl. In December of 2023, Uintah County Sheriff Steve Labrum and TriCounty Health Director Kirk Benge announced that fentanyl was responsible for a major spike in overdose deaths in the area with as many deaths in 6 weeks as would typically be seen over almost a year. “Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat the United States has ever faced, and Utah is no exception, said U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah. “My office and our law enforcement partners are working every day to protect our communities from fentanyl and other illicit drugs and prosecute people who traffic these deadly substances.” To learn more, visit opidemic.utah.gov.
