Tag: fentanyl
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EDITORIAL: Rising overdoses cry out for a crackdown
El Paso County Coroner Emily Russell-Kinsley revealed some disturbing news this week: The number of accidental overdose deaths in the county last year — 178 — represent a 16% jump over a year earlier. As The Gazette reports, that’s nearly the same percentage by which overdose deaths declined nationwide in that time. Nationally, overdose deaths…
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GUEST OPINION: Curbing fentanyl overdoses starts with reducing addiction
The fight against fentanyl overdose in Colorado is failing. After years of declining rates, Common Sense Institute reports Colorado’s overdoses are increasing while the national average is decreasing. Colorado has outpaced all but two states, increasing overdose deaths by 17% over the last two years. This alarming trend shows the state must act before the…
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Coroner’s report: Overdose deaths rise in El Paso County, buck national trend
Last year, El Paso County saw 178 accidental overdose deaths, a 16% increase over 2024. The numbers, recently released in the El Paso County Coroner’s annual report, show that drug-related deaths in Colorado’s most populous county rose at close to the same rate that overdoses decreased nationwide. In the United States, overdose deaths decreased by…
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Coroner’s report: Overdose deaths rise in El Paso County, buck national trend
Last year, El Paso County saw 178 accidental overdose deaths, a 16% increase over 2024. The numbers, recently released in the El Paso County Coroner’s annual report, show that drug-related deaths in Colorado’s most populous county rose at close to the same rate that overdoses decreased nationwide. In the United States, overdose deaths decreased by…
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Perspective: Fighting back at fentanyl
For years, Colorado has tried to find the humane center of its response to addiction. It is a tricky balance to keep people alive, expand treatment, and avoid turning every person with a substance-use disorder into a lifelong felon. Those are worthy aims. Compassion belongs in our drug policy. Compassion, though, must be judged by…
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El Paso County deputies arrest 2 in Cimarron Hills traffic stop, seizing drugs, guns and cash
El Paso County sheriff’s deputies arrested two people and seized two guns, money, fentanyl pills and other illicit drugs during an Aug. 29 traffic stop in Cimarron Hills, the Sheriff’s Office announced on Friday. Pretson Reno, 48, and Amanda Pacheco-Sammon, 43, were both taken into custody on $50,000 bonds following the stop. Deputies stopped the…
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EDITORIAL: Colorado’s fight against fentanyl continues
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Rocky Mountain division just released its latest fentanyl seizure data — and it’s as grim as ever. As The Gazette reported, nearly 3.2 million illicit fentanyl pills and 92.5 kilograms of fentanyl powder were seized across Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Montana between early 2026 and last week. Just 2 milligrams of…
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Colorado Springs recognizes overdose awareness day | Rachel Stovall
I hate politics right now in Colorado. So allow me to tell you a community story. This story is about a young man named Josiah M. Vigil. Josiah was 17 years old. Yes, I said was. He was the victim of a fatal overdose after taking a pill sold to him by an adult. We…
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New Mexico governor could seek billions after DEA let fentanyl hit streets | OUT WEST ROUNDUP
NEW MEXICO Governor rips DEA policy ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico’s governor said on June 29 that state officials could pursue billions of dollars in civil damages after revelations that U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents repeatedly allowed shipments of fentanyl to flow into drug-plagued communities as investigators sought to build bigger cases. Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan…
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6 indicted on drug-trafficking charges in Pikes Peak region, 300,000 fentanyl pills seized
Editor’s note: This article was updated to reflect corrections issued by the District Attorney’s office on July 10 regarding the amount of and type of drugs seized. A grand jury in El Paso County indicted six people after law enforcement seized over 300,000 suspected fentanyl pills, heroin and other drugs, the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s…