Over the past several years, our nation has seen a dramatic increase in overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids, specifically fentanyl. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent.  Its legitimate medical use is as a prescription drug typically used to treat pain.  Unfortunately, organized drug cartels based in Mexico are manufacturing and smuggling fentanyl into the U.S., furthering an already sizable opioid abuse problem.   

Just two milligrams of fentanyl, the small amount that fits on the tip of a pencil, is considered a potentially deadly dose. In 2022, 49% of overdose deaths in Idaho involved fentanyl. From 2020 to 2022, the rate of fentanyl-related overdose deaths tripled in Idaho.