Yuma Anti Drug Coalition hosts Fentanyl Awareness Forum

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - The Yuma anti-drug coalition hosted its first awareness event today, creating an important dialogue for safeguarding children against fentanyl.

Locals gathered at Yuma City Hall to gain a better understanding of fentanyl and the dangers it’s bringing into our community and what that means for local families

“You now fentanyl does not discriminate between your age, socioeconomic status, color of your skin or where you live,” said Yuma County Juvenile Probation Supervisor, Henry Gonzalez.

In Yuma County there were 33 fatal overdoses in 2018, that climbed to 48 in 2019 and higher to 61 and 60 in 2020 and 2021.

But the Yuma County Health Department says due to new efforts, fatal overdoses went down last year.

“Hopefully by our efforts that decreased to 38 overdoses in 2022,” said Ryan Butcher, from the Yuma County Health Department.

Representatives from several agencies are now joining forces to combat drug abuse, addiction and overdose deaths in Yuma, including local school leaders.

“People say I never thought it would happen to my kid. They’re all great kids and great adults, so we have 11,000 great kids so we have to protect them the best we can,” said Yuma Union High School District Superintendent, Tim Brienza.

Superintendent Brienza says this is why they carry Narcan on every high school campus.

Yuma County Locals were also able to get a better understanding of how fentanyl is impacting our loved ones.

“This is our community, these are all our kids, these are the people that care about our children. These kids that encounter this stuff day to day, they know a lot more than what we think so sitting down and having that conversation with whoever it is, is important as leaders, as parents, as healthcare workers, all of us have the responsibility to have that conversation,” said Yuma city council member, Carol Smith.