Rocky Mountain Voice

Tag: Overdose Crisis

Colorado Ballot Plan to Toughen Fentanyl Penalties Moves Forward
The Denver Gazette, Approved, State

Colorado Ballot Plan to Toughen Fentanyl Penalties Moves Forward

By Marissa Ventrelli | The Denver Gazette A proposed measure that would increase penalties for fentanyl manufacturing, distribution, and possession has collected enough signatures to qualify for the 2026 ballot, following several failed attempts by the state legislature to pass similar legislation. Backed by Advance Colorado, the ballot initiative would make the sale of any amount of fentanyl a Class 1 felony, punishable by up to 32 years in prison. It would also mandate court-ordered substance use treatment for individuals convicted of possession of up to one gram of fentanyl. On Thursday, family members who lost loved ones to fentanyl overdoses joined legislators and law enforcement officers at Denver’s Ralph Carr Courthouse to announce that the initiative had gathered...
Saving lives in schools: Naloxone access expands across Colorado
Pew Charitable Trusts, Approved, State

Saving lives in schools: Naloxone access expands across Colorado

By Alexandra Duncan | Pew Charitable Trusts State Senator Cleave Simpson explains why making an opioid overdose reversal drug more available matters Despite declining drug overdose deaths in the U.S., opioids such as fentanyl are still driving most of these fatalities across the country. But naloxone is a lifesaving medication that can help. Any person, even those without medical training, can administer naloxone to someone in need and reverse an opioid overdose. As a farmer and rancher in rural Colorado, State Senator and Minority Leader Cleave Simpson—a Republican representing District 6, the southwest region covering Alamosa, Durango, Telluride, and other cities—knew the overdose crisis was taking a toll on his community. But when he joined the Colorado...
Coroner report: Fentanyl-linked deaths surge 41% in Boulder County first half of 2025
Longmont Leader, Approved, Local

Coroner report: Fentanyl-linked deaths surge 41% in Boulder County first half of 2025

By Steven Middendorp | Longmont Leader Last week, the Office of the Boulder County Coroner released its 2025 biannual drug report for the first half of the year, from January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025. Last week, the Office of the Boulder County Coroner released its 2025 biannual drug report for the first half of the year, from January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025. The coroner’s office certified 171 deaths of the 1,206 deaths that occurred in Boulder County during this time range. Toxicology testing was conducted on 92 of these individuals and 73 were found to have a positive test for at least one drug with the majority having a positive test for multiple drugs. 33 of these deaths were caused by at least one drug according to the coroner’s report, which is 35.8 percent of the deceased ind...

FD863768-0ACF-495E-9D21-2EF784DFFA6B[1]

Join us at RMV's Freedom Festival

Click Here for Tickets!

This will close in 0 seconds