By DRAKE HUNTER | Rocky Mountain Voice
The equivalent of a capacity school bus is killed each week by fentanyl, making the drug the leading cause of death for those ages 18 to 45 in America.
It has been termed by the Drug Enforcement Administration as the “deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced.”
The story of fentanyl in Colorado, as told by the movie DEVASTATED, has been shown for the second time in Morgan County on the Eastern Plains this week. DEVASTATED delves into the stories of parents who have lost children to the drug, with members of law enforcement, addicts, dealers, politicians and the medical community participating in the movie.
“The fentanyl issue is not only an epidemic issue statewide, but it is a monster in our own backyard affecting every aspect of our culture,” said Morgan County Sheriff Dave Martin.
In Colorado, the possession of more than one gram and not more than four grams of fentanyl is a Level 4 drug felony, but possession of less than a gram is a misdemeanor. Lawmakers had a chance to make possession of any amount of fentanyl a felony with House Bill 24-1306, but in 2024 the bill never made it out of committee, although it had the support of two former police officers in the House committee.
“The fight against fentanyl requires collaboration among various stakeholders, including law enforcement, healthcare providers, churches and other community organizations,” Sen. Byron Pelton said. “It’s a team effort.”
DEVASTATED will be shown again at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29, at Elevating Life Church in Fort Morgan. No admission fee will be charged.