THOUSAND PALMS, CALIF. (KESQ)- Health experts and advocates highlighted life-saving overdose prevention tools as Riverside County saw a 54% drop in fentanyl-related deaths in its most recent 12-month comparison.
Fentanyl-related fatalities in the county fell from 545 to 251 during that period, though officials warn the synthetic opioid remains a critical public health threat.
The ongoing crisis has devastated local families, including Jennifer Loza, whose 18-year-old son, Steven Loza, died from a fentanyl overdose after smoking a single pill. Loza said those present had access to phones and Narcan while a parent was inside the home…