A freshly released study by Forward Analytics, titled Lethal Opioid Crisis: Wisconsin's Battle with Rampant Fentanyl Overdoses, reveals that Wisconsin is ensnared in a life-threatening epidemic of drug-related deaths, predominantly caused by the illicit use of fentanyl.
According to Dale Knapp, the Director of Forward Analytics and the study's primary researcher, "Fentanyl has surged to become the leading cause of death for individuals between the ages of 25 and 54 in Wisconsin. The statistics are alarming."
The study outlines that from 2015 to 2021, fatal overdoses connected to synthetic opioids, mainly fentanyl, skyrocketed by over 1,000%, resulting in the loss of more than 4,300 lives in Wisconsin alone.
Originally intended for medical use to alleviate severe pain, fentanyl has now been co-opted into dangerous, illegal forms. These illicit variants are manufactured and distributed in various forms, including liquid, gel, and powder. Moreover, counterfeit pills resembling OxyContin, Percocet, and Adderall, are being laced with fentanyl and sold alongside other illicit substances. This drug is extraordinarily potent and can be lethal in doses as small as two milligrams, making it virtually undetectable by taste, smell, or sight.
The study particularly emphasizes the demographic sectors most afflicted. Data from 2021 shows that Black and American Indian residents in Wisconsin experienced fentanyl-related deaths at a rate nearly triple that of White residents. Moreover, the mortality rate for males is 2.6 times higher than that for females, and those aged 25 to 34 are at an especially high risk.
Preliminary data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests a potential stabilization in fentanyl-related deaths in Wisconsin, with approximately 1,300 deaths reported in both 2021 and 2022.
Dale Knapp warns that despite these potentially encouraging signs, "the battle is far from over." Evidence from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration supports this caution. In 2022, they confiscated more than 50.6 million fentanyl-laced pills nationwide. An alarming 60% of these tested contained lethal doses. Additionally, 10,000 pounds of fentanyl powder were seized, amounting to more than 379 million deadly doses—greater than the entire U.S. population.
In light of the escalating fentanyl crisis, there's a growing conversation around alternative, less harmful substances, particularly cannabis. The legalization of cannabis presents not only a potential health benefit but also a pragmatic approach to diverting individuals away from dangerous and illicit drugs like fentanyl.
For communities wracked by the opioid crisis, legal marijuana dispensaries offer a beacon of hope. These establishments provide regulated, safer alternatives for pain management and recreational use, decreasing the demand for lethal street drugs. Moreover, cannabis has been shown to be effective for chronic pain relief, which could provide a more natural alternative for individuals who might otherwise resort to opioids for pain management.
Governmental benefits are also significant. Tax revenue generated from legal cannabis sales can be reinvested into public health programs, including those aimed at drug education and rehabilitation. This creates a virtuous cycle where the revenue generated helps fund the very programs designed to mitigate substance abuse issues. Moreover, law enforcement resources can be refocused away from cannabis-related crimes, allowing for more concentrated efforts to combat the distribution and usage of far more dangerous substances like fentanyl.
As Wisconsin grapples with fentanyl as its number one silent killer, particularly among people aged 25 to 54, cannabis legalization could be a crucial step in curbing this devastating epidemic. By providing a safer, natural alternative for pain relief and by creating new avenues for tax revenue that can be directed towards public health initiatives, legal cannabis could play a significant role in alleviating this crisis.
Report Highlights:
Men are 2.6 times more likely to die from fentanyl than women.
The mortality rate for Black and American Indian residents is nearly threefold higher than for white residents. For the Black community in Wisconsin, these rates almost tripled from 2019 to 2021.
Among individuals aged 25 to 34, fentanyl-related fatalities in 2020 outnumbered the second leading cause of death—motor vehicle accidents—by a ratio of 2.6.
Over the span of 2015 to 2021, fentanyl was responsible for over 4,300 deaths in Wisconsin, translating into 155,000 years of potential life lost.