2025 Utah Fentanyl Report
Executive Summary
This report investigates the evolving nature of drug use, now primarily supply-driven rather than demand-driven. Illicit drug manufacturers have gained power through producing drugs more efficiently and at lower costs, flooding the U.S. supply with Illicitly Manufactured Fentanyl (IMF).
Characterized by Polysubstance use (Fentanyl + Stimulants).
In overdose deaths (2022-2023) when harm reduction services decreased.
In overdose deaths (2023-2024) when harm reduction services rebounded[cite: 29].
What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. [cite_start]While it has legitimate medical uses, Illicitly Manufactured Fentanyl (IMF) is driving the current crisis[cite: 69].
The "Fourth Wave"
The U.S. is currently in "Wave IV" of the overdose epidemic: Polysubstance Use. This involves fentanyl being mixed—often without the user's knowledge—with stimulants like methamphetamine and cocaine.
[cite_start]
Note: In 2024, undercover reporters purchased chemicals to produce 3 million fentanyl pills for only $3,600[cite: 157].
Utah Data & Statistics (2024)
Methamphetamine and fentanyl continue to be the most common substances involved in overdose deaths in Utah. [cite_start]Below is the breakdown of substances involved in fatal overdoses for 2024 (Preliminary Data)[cite: 422].
| Rank | Substance | Percentage of Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Methamphetamine | 44% |
| 2 | Fentanyl | 43% |
| 3 | Gabapentin | 15% |
| 4 | Ethanol (Alcohol) | 14% |
| 5 | Oxycodone | 11% |
Emerging Threats: Xylazine
Xylazine ("Tranq") is a veterinary sedative found increasingly in the drug supply. [cite_start]While rare in Utah compared to the East Coast, there have been 10 fatal overdoses involving Xylazine in Utah since 2014, with 6 occurring between 2023 and 2024[cite: 258].
2025 Recommendations
The Utah Fentanyl Task Force has identified ten key recommendations to address the crisis. Click the items below for details.
1. Public Awareness Campaigns
Provide funding for local health departments to utilize public awareness campaigns which promote positive messaging, concentrate messaging to high-risk areas, and encourage the public to seek substance use treatment.
2. Naloxone Distribution & Vending Machines
Provide long-term funding to secure naloxone availability for all Utahns. [cite_start]Consider the implementation of naloxone vending machines as a tool for easy distribution[cite: 697].
3. Fentanyl Test Strips (FTS)
Continue distributing FTS through local health departments and remove any local barriers which limit the distribution of FTS and other harm reduction resources. [cite_start]In 2024, distribution grew to over 48,000 strips[cite: 780].
4. Drug Checking Programs
Provide a rapid, low-cost, publicly available drug checking program to help users identify not just the presence of fentanyl, but potency and other adulterants.
5. EMS Naloxone Distribution
Distribute excess naloxone kits to EMS so that responders can freely hand out extra kits on scene of an incident to others at high risk of experiencing or witnessing an overdose.
6. Broaden Prevention Programming
Broaden overdose prevention programming to focus on all substances, not just opioids. This is critical as polysubstance use (methamphetamine + fentanyl) rises.
7. Expand Treatment Options
Prioritize ongoing Medicaid funding as a primary source for people seeking treatment. [cite_start]Support community partners to provide more services that link clients to care (e.g., MAT Bridge programming)[cite: 900].
8. Grant Flexibility
Expand definitions for grant funding to be used on indirect patient care, such as building expansion, offering longer clinical hours, or providing room and board fees while in treatment.
9. Grief and Loss Education
Provide grief and loss education in human services curricula and offer no-cost continuing education units for current practitioners to help address the trauma of sudden loss.
10. Community Advisory Boards
Establish boards that include people with lived experience to provide input for policies and community interventions. "Nothing about us, without us."
Need Help?
If you suspect a poisoning or overdose:
1-800-222-1222Utah Poison Control Center
Free • Confidential • 24/7
Source: 2025 Fentanyl Report, Utah Drug Monitoring Initiative, HIDTA, CDC Foundation. Supported by Grant No. 2018-PM-BX-K021.
| Local Health Department | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear River | 95.2 | 82.1 | 162.7 | 250.7 | 226.3 | 212.1 |
| Central | 150.5 | 123.4 | 239.0 | 243.0 | 241.6 | 200.2 |
| Davis | 144.4 | 126.5 | 157.5 | 175.0 | 170.2 | 143.8 |
| Salt Lake | 174.3 | 140.6 | 170.8 | 191.1 | 173.6 | 146.1 |
| San Juan | 131.4 | 154.6 | 232.2 | 83.0 | 59.6 | 26.8 |
| Southeast | 826.4 | 567.1 | 575.2 | 657.9 | 557.2 | 532.9 |
| Southwest | 160.2 | 152.2 | 200.8 | 221.0 | 211.1 | 165.3 |