Colorado Tightens Fentanyl Laws Amid Rising Overdose Deaths

Denver, CO: Amidst rising concerns over fentanyl-related deaths, Colorado has reassessed its approach to handling fentanyl possession. The new legislation, signed by Governor Polis, reflects a nuanced approach to the growing crisis, balancing between penalizing illicit drug use and supporting victims of addiction.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 100 times more potent than morphine, has become a central figure in drug overdose deaths. In Colorado alone, over 900 people succumbed to fentanyl overdoses last year, including a worrying number of children and teenagers. Previously considered a drug primarily used for pain management in cancer patients, fentanyl has increasingly been found mixed with street drugs, often unbeknownst to users​​​​.

The recent legislative changes stem from House Bill 1326, a response to the 2019 law which categorized possessing up to 4 grams of most drugs, including fentanyl, as a misdemeanor. Critics argued that this law contributed to the surge in fentanyl-related deaths, a claim contested by harm reduction advocates.

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