Fighting Fentanyl in Cascade County and How to Help

For some people, me included, things aren't always black and white until you see actual data presented that corroborates the claim. So, when someone says that the drug problem is bad in Montana, I want to see the figures that make that statement true.

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After looking at numbers and data from the state regarding the specific drug fentanyl, I am kind of wishing that I hadn't. Because the numbers are scary to say the least, and it affects all of us.

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Fentanyl, The Death of a Community in Cascade County

In data released by the Montana Attorney General, in 2022 the state saw a near triple of the numbers compared to the record year of seizures in 2021. Over 111,000 doses of the drug were taken off the streets in just the first two quarters of that year.

Since then, the epidemic continues to rise with fentanyl. From 2019-2020, drug overdose deaths rose 30% according to the CDC. In Montana, those statistics are even worse, showing that fentanyl-linked fatal overdoses increased more than 1,100 percent since 2017.

How To Help Combat Fentanyl in Great Falls and Cascade County

To help the community understand and learn more about the drug fentanyl, the Great Falls Cascade County Crimestoppers, Alliance for Youth and the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office are presenting "Fentanyl, The Death of a Community" in Great Falls.

The event is April 30th, at the Alliance for Youth location at 3220 11th Avenue South. Starting at 6pm, this event is free and open to the public. Speakers will be on hand to present information about the drug. Participants will learn what the drug looks like, how to tell if someone is using, and how to talk with children and families about the drug.

Great Falls/Cascade County Crimestoppers Facebook