Opioid Crisis

  Opioid Crisis      In Arizona, there has been an increase in opioid overdoses in the last couple of years. In 2021 there were over 2,000 confirmed opioid overdose deaths, and at least 372 confirmed opioid overdose deaths this year alone, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.      Fentanyl pills are made with bright colors, which can easily be mistaken as candy. The opioid issue is affecting communities all over Arizona as there has been an increase in retail theft, burglaries, and public overdoses.       I believe there needs to be a more significant effort to educate the public on the dangers of opioids and increase awareness of where resources can be found.      The opioid crisis affects me personally because I have a loved one who is currently going through addiction, and seeing how it affects someone's overall well-being is heartbreaking.   Sources : https://www.azdhs.gov/opioid/