Town Hall discusses fentanyl epidemic in eastern Idaho
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The City of Idaho Falls highlights how the community can make a difference in fighting the nationwide fentanyl epidemic. Officials said the drug was the cause of 197 deaths in Idaho last year.
In partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, city leadership held a special town hall to discuss how fentanyl is impacting families and communities near and far. They said it affects people no matter their walk of life.
Idaho Falls Mayor shared an experience she had with her sister.
"Christmas Eve 2021. I got a phone call from my sister who was living in Ames, who was quite panicked. And she told me that my youngest sister, Natalie, had been taken to the hospital unresponsive despite having been treated by paramedics in her home. We don't know the full story of how the fentanyl filter turned into her system. But it took her like that, right? She was on the phone talking, and then she wasn't," Casper said.
The goal of the meeting was to give people the information and resources they need to make a difference, whether that be information on law enforcement efforts to capture and hold drug dealers responsible, resources to contain or dispose of dangerous drugs, or the programs in the area that lead to the hope of addiction recovery.
Mark with the Center for Hope in Idaho Falls says his struggles with drugs and alcohol began in high school. But now, 20 years sober, he shows others that recovery is possible.
"A lot of things in life are hard, tough, and they don't really have any value at the end. This has a lot of value at hand. I have a couple of young kids. I have a family life. I have a great job. My health has gotten extremely better. And I'm able to just pay my bills, buy a car pay the rent, buy groceries, go on vacation, and things like that, things that I really wanted my whole life."
