The epidemic of synthetic opioids is destructive to communities such as our hometown of Longmont, Colorado, and other cities across the United States, and it demands both compassion and decisive action.

Hard drugs such as fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine overstimulate the brain’s reward system and unleash extreme addiction, with the fact that fentanyl can be up to 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, making its dangers all the more urgent. Just two milligrams of fentanyl, a barely visible speck, can be fatal, and long-term use of potent substances often damages the heart, kidneys, liver and nervous system, ultimately leading to chronic illness or death.

Substance use disorders greatly affect the individual, causing job loss, family issues,

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