DENVER — Denver Health is sharing the stories of patients and support specialists to ease the stigma surrounding fentanyl use and, in turn, reduce overdose deaths.
According to data from the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE), as of July 10, there have been 320 confirmed overdose deaths so far this year. Of those, 213 cases involved fentanyl.
During the same period last year (Jan. 1 through July 10, 2024), there were 275 confirmed overdose deaths in Denver.
“Really, the age range is everything from 9 years old to 90. That is not an exaggeration, we have patients at either end of the spectrum,” Sarah Christensen, medical director of outpatient substance use disorders at Denver Health, said about the patients she sees who have been impacted by fentanyl. “They’re a variety of backgrounds. No one is immune; no one is protected. Coming from a good family or having money doesn’t stop you from experiencing this.”…