Board of Supervisors Chairman Clint Hickman declared the eradication of fentanyl a top priority at the beginning of the year and directed county departments to allocate additional resources towards this fight. And with good reason.

In 2022 alone, Arizona seized a staggering $28 million worth of fentanyl pills. In 2023, more fentanyl was seized at our state’s ports of entry than at any other U.S. border entry.

Chairman Hickman said under his leadership in Maricopa County, "there are going to be severe repercussions if you try to kill our kids."

Fentanyl has overtaken meth as the deadliest drug in Arizona. 

• Fentanyl deaths have increased by 4,900 percent since 2015. 
• Approximately 60 percent of all drug-related deaths involve fentanyl. 
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• In Maricopa County, more than three people die every day on average due to fentanyl.

The Office of the Medical Examiner provides this data so health partners and policy makers can make informed decisions about how best to address the fentanyl crisis.

Fentanyl is often found in other illicit or prescription drugs, so users sometimes don't know what they've taken until it's too late. 

This person could be someone in your life- a friend, a neighbor, a family member.  That's why more people are carrying Narcan (or Naloxone), a drug that can reverse a fentanyl overdose.  In this instructional video, learn how to identify the signs of an overdose and how to effectively administer Narcan to save a life. 

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is seizing millions of fentanyl pills every year.  They say the vast majority come from the Sinaloa drug cartel in Mexico.  Unfortunately, the drug is often sold on social media.  In the video, a detective with MCSO describes how teens are finding it online, and how Arizona's "Good Samaritan Law" enables someone experiencing an overdose or witnessing an overdose to get help without fear of prosecution.

County Attorney Rachel Mitchell has made prosecuting fentanyl dealers a priority for her administration.  And the number of cases has skyrocketed in recent years:

• In 2017, 37 fentanyl cases were prosecuted. 
• In 2022, fentanyl cases increased to 6,629.

The County Attorney is hopeful with more awareness and education (such as the fentanyl forums detailed below), we can decrease current trends, save lives, and punish those responsible for bringing Arizona's deadliest drug into our community.

The County Attorney hosted a fentanyl forum in Avondale this November, drawing 130 attendees. Parents, students, and teachers listened to a fentanyl prevention speaker panel and 150 Narcan kits were given out to prevent more overdoses.

The County Attorney hosted a fentanyl forum at McClintock High School in Tempe back in March. The panel included Community Bridges Inc., Tempe Police Department, and the County Attorney's Drug Enforcement Bureau. McClintock High School students received a standing ovation for a PSA they created to prevent their peers from using fentanyl.

The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office will continue its series of free community forums featuring County Attorney Rachel Mitchell and a panel of experts who will share valuable insights and resources. A Spanish-language forum will be held at 6 p.m. Feb. 6 at The Salvation Army Kroc Center, 1375 E. Broadway Road.  An English-language forum will be held at 6 p.m. March 4 at Notre Dame Preparatory High School, 9701 E. Bell Road. For details, visit Maricopa.gov/fentanyl.

RESOURCES

Where to Find Narcan

Additional Educational Resources