Utah is seeing more fentanyl seizures than ever before. In response, Governor Spencer Cox has created the state’s first task force to address this issue. The task force held its first meeting on November 14, 2024.
Fentanyl is a man-made drug. It is often disguised to look like prescription medication. A report from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services in 2024 stated there were 290 overdose deaths linked to fentanyl in 2023.
For the first time in 2023, fentanyl became the most common drug involved in overdose deaths in Utah, surpassing methamphetamine.
A lethal dose of fentanyl is as tiny as 10 to 15 grains of salt, which is about two milligrams.
Attorney General Derek Brown sees fentanyl as a significant issue in the state. He plans to provide resources to help counties, especially in rural areas, deal with this problem.