BCMS Opioid Awareness Project
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
The opioid epidemic and fentanyl poisoning crisis has arrived in Boulder County. The availability and use of illegally-made fentanyl and other synthetic opioids has created a drug crisis that continues to grow in intensity and can potentially affect ANY member of our community. Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) estimates that there has been a “100% increase in fentanyl-related emergency department visits for Boulder County residents” over a 12-month period.
BCPH has also warned that xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer, may be adulterating fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other narcotics in Boulder County which increases the risk of fatal overdose. Substances like Nitazenes have also been introduced to Boulder County and pose serious challenges for public health officials and law enforcement officers according to the Office of the Boulder County Coroner.
The Commander of the Boulder County Drug Task Force warns, “Deadly powdered fentanyl is in Boulder County’s illicit drug supply, and residents must take extra steps to keep themselves and their friends and family safe.”
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?
In 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized more than 77 million fentanyl pills
and 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder. The DEA considers fentanyl to be “the deadliest drug threat facing this country.”
The DEA’s, Rocky Mountain Field Division (RMFD) covers Colorado, Utah, Montana and Wyoming. In 2023, the RMFD seized 425.60 kilograms of fentanyl or approximately 2.61 million pills in Colorado alone. The amount seized in Colorado was 3 times more than Utah, Montana, and Wyoming COMBINED.
The availability of this deadly drug in our state is obvious. That means you or someone you know may be impacted by the opioid/fentanyl crisis in Boulder County for many reasons:
Fentanyl products may look like COMMON DRUGS and even candy (rainbow fentanyl).78% of initially misused opioids are obtained from a MEDICINE CABINET of a friend or relative.
1 in 6 people have "addiction genes" for opioids meaning that ODDS ARE HIGH you know someone PREDISPOSED to a substance use disorder (addiction).
Boulder County residents may also be unintentionally using fentanyl-laced drugs and are at risk for overdosing from:
- forged or fraudulent prescriptions
- tainted marijuana and party drugs that may be laced with strong opioids or sedatives
- counterfeit medication purchased online such as fake oxycodone, Adderall, and Xanax
Counterfeit medication is extremely dangerous with a record number of high school teenagers dying of overdoses in 2022 primarily from fentanyl poisonings, many from counterfeit pills. It is also estimated that 22 adolescents ranging in age from 14 to 18 years old died each week in the United States from drug overdoses in 2022.
The difference between an authentic medication and a counterfeit drug may be difficult to impossible to recognize.
The Fentanyl Crisis: Unmasking Fake Pills (Short)
WHO IS AT RISK?
The opioid epidemic and drug poisoning crisis facing us cuts across every age group and type of education, income, and occupation.
YOUNG CHILDREN ≤5 years: opioids were the most common substances leading to fatal poisonings in this age group last year. Source - American Academy of Pediatrics
YOUNG AMERICANS 18-45 years: fentanyl overdose and poisoning are their LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH - more than alcohol poisoning, gun violence or motor vehicle accidents. Source - Drug Enforcement Agency
OLDER ADULTS 55+ years: the rate of opioid overdose deaths in this age group has quadrupled in 10 years. Source - JAMA Psychiatry
WHAT IS THE BCMS OPIOID AWARENESS PROJECT?
The Boulder County Medical Society (BCMS) and the BCMS Foundation are committed to addressing the drug poisoning crisis in our area by educating not only our patients and their family members, but the ENTIRE Boulder community.
Our mission is two-fold. First, we are committed to distributing thousands of OPIOID AWARENESS CARDS to the Boulder County community to help educate EVERYONE about the opioid and fentanyl crisis and the ways to prevent continued overdose deaths and fentanyl poisonings. Each card directs the user to MANY valuable digital resources so that they can share their knowledge with others.
Second, BCMS and the BCMS Foundation have developed a comprehensive OPIOID EPIDEMIC DIGITAL GUIDE with important resources for everyone from students to educators to athletes to parents to grandparents. This guide includes essential information for everyone to understand the risks our community faces and to direct you to resources so that you can play an ACTIVE role in stopping this toxic and deadly epidemic in your family, in your workplace, and in your community.
HOW CAN YOU HELP US?
Please consider working with us to confront the opioid epidemic by uniting together as a community. Everyone in Boulder County needs to know how to keep yourself, your family and friends, and your community safe. The BCMS Opioid Awareness Project is led by physicians and is an ALL volunteer effort. Please join us by volunteering or donating to this important public health initiative. Contact us at the BCMS Foundation or Contact@BoulderMedSociety.org.
BE ALERT, BE AWARE, BE EDUCATED and HELP US SAVE LIVES!