Fentanyl pills, often blue like those shown here, are usually smoked but can also be ingested orally. Officials at the Grant County Jail say a majority of those who enter the jail due to an arrest are facing an addiction to fentanyl. Meanwhile, officials at the Grant County Coroner’s Office say overdoses due to fentanyl are seeing a dramatic rise.
July 13, 2023
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Fentanyl crisis in Grant County
Local authorities express significant concern over fentanyl’s prevalence in the community.
EPHRATA – According to staff at the Grant County Jail, roughly 90% of detainees arrive with some substance abuse-related concern. Of those, roughly 70% have some level of dependency on fentanyl. The Grant County Morgue is seeing sadly similar increases. “We’re starting to see (fentanyl addiction) as a huge issue inside the jail,” said Grant County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Chief Deputy Phil Coats. “And, from what I’m hearing talking to some of the people that are withdrawing from it is that it is so severe that actual suicide rates have actually gone up in jails because they don’t want to have to deal (with withdrawals.) It hurts too much.” ...