# 205

In April, 2016, the recording artist Prince OD’d on Fentanyl and drew attention to Minnesota as a blip on the screen. In 2020, the Toxicology report issued following George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, raised the Fentanyl issue again in National coverage.

Today, though incomplete, I am publishing the ten year Fentanyl death statistics, produced from AI as the death-from-Fentanyl statistics compiled by the Minnesota Health Department:

Based on reports from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and state officials, Minnesota experienced a significant surge in fentanyl-related overdose deaths between 2019 and 2022, followed by a decline in 2023 and a sharper decrease in 2024

. While 2024 showed marked progress, preliminary 2025 data suggests a stabilization of these numbers rather than a continued steep decline. 

Fentanyl-Related Deaths in Minnesota (2016–2025)

• 2016–2018: Deaths involving synthetic opioids (primarily fentanyl) were rising but at much lower levels compared to the following decade.
• 2019–2020: The number of deaths began to rise significantly. By 2019, 288 of the 298 synthetic opioid deaths involved fentanyl.
• 2021: Fentanyl drove a record number of overdose deaths, with 1,286 total overdose deaths reported.
• 2022: Opioid-involved overdose deaths increased 51% from 2020, with over 70% of fatal overdoses involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
• 2023: Preliminary data showed a slight decrease in overall overdose deaths, but synthetic opioid deaths remained high, with 892 deaths.
• 2024: A 26% decline in total drug overdose deaths occurred (994 deaths), with a 35% decline in synthetic opioid deaths (down from 942 to 610).
• 2025: As of late 2025, early data indicated that overdose deaths were stalling, showing similar numbers to the first half of 2024, representing a pause in the downward trend. 

Key Trends and Demographics

• Disproportionate Impact: In 2024, American Indians were seven times more likely to die from a drug overdose, and African Americans were three times more likely to die from a drug overdose than white Minnesotans.
• Rise in Greater Minnesota: While metro counties were hit hard, 2021 saw a significant increase in deaths in Greater Minnesota. However, 2024 data showed a 31% decrease in Greater Minnesota compared to a 23% drop in the metro.
• Prevalence: Fentanyl is now the leading cause of fatal overdoses in the state, frequently mixed with other substances. 

                                                              # 204

Yes, mixtures of CNS Depressants may take a “user” down, more quickly, but now the mixtures are so complex that they are presenting Medical personnel with a conundrum that renders revival antidotes; useless and Medical personnel struggling to overcome the effects of the new animal tranquilizer that grabs-hold of the victims Brain receptors that keep the “user” sedated.

In this particular war, chemists and drug dealers are producing/marketing substances for profit. Their “enemy”/customers are the street users who seek to get “low.”  Yes, they use the term “high”, but Fentanyl ant Medetomidine are Central Nervous System (CNS) depressants that slow respiration/heart rate, reduce pain (analgesic) and, increasingly, they are being mixed.

The results are now found to be confounding the “medics” in this “war” because NARCAN may not revive someone who has self-administered the mixture - wittingly or unwittingly.

Treatment/revival becomes more difficult.

Here’s one emerging article:

https://www.substanceusephilly.com/medetomidine

Again, why purchase & self administer substances from “some dude on the street” and not by prescription from a Doctor and then a pharmacist?

Why would a self-administering “user” play “Russian Roulette” with their life, especially when the “high” they seek will quickly take them so “low” that they risk death?

                                                                  # 203

New Report Increases the percentage of Traffic Fatalities where Toxicology reports THC

Colorado, after first two years of legalization of THC, reported that 30% of Fatal operator toxicology reports displayed THC in the absence of Alcohol.  Today, new reporting has raised the percentage to 40%, however, this figure includes alcohol.

https://www.facs.org/media-center/press-releases/2025/over-40-of-deceased-drivers-in-motor-vehicle-crashes-test-positive-for-thc-study-shows/

Going back on the timeline of humanity, man has almost always sought to alter his mind with substances. His impulse to do so has not always been tampered by an awareness of the risks to human life as technology brought us the automobile and the airplane.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=InVVylKEzoE

https://viewfromthewing.com/delta-pilot-arrested-for-alcohol-reportedly-cleared-by-second-test-but-should-pilots-be-allowed-any-drinks-before-flight/

From AI

THC and fatal crashes

• A recent study presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress found that over 40% of drivers who died in fatal crashes in Montgomery County, Ohio, between 2019 and 2024 tested positive for active THC.
• The same study noted that the average THC level in these deceased drivers was 30.7 ng/mL, which is far above the 2–5 ng/mL legal limit in states that have one. This indicates recent use, not residual.

                                                                  # 202

Nitazenes

New, synthetic opioid, now found to be fatal and rarely responsive to recovery nasal spray- NARCAN

https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/38001/

https://www.utmb.edu/mdnews/podcast/episode/even-worse-than-fentanyl

                                                  # 201

POTUS signs bill into Law. Features Federal, Mandatory Minimum Sentence of ten years for persons dealing in Fentanyl when a fatality is linked to a dealers exchange or sale of the substance.

https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrichs-halt-all-lethal-trafficking-of-fentanyl-act-heads-to-the-white-house

Sentencing is finally “catching-up” to dealers whose products are proven to have caused death.

                                                                    # 200

A recent Sentencing in Maryland in July, 2025 reports enhanced sentencing for dealers for deaths resulting from drug sales they made. Dealer for which death resulted from sale of product Fentanyl, receives 10 year sentence.

Good News for sentencing that may produce a deterrent, maybe the “dealer will start selling drugs that have never been lethal. Drugs/substances that have no known lethal dose levels, no enhanced sentences.

https://mocoshow.com/2025/07/04/ice-announces-10-year-sentence-for-maryland-fentanyl-trafficker/

                                                             # 199

                               The depth of man’s inhumanity towards man.

It is called Kush, but not the original Kush. This is Kush produced in Sienna Leone and trafficked in Guinea and Liberia. It is a polydrug that includes Fentanyl and other synthetic drugs but now includes ground human bones harvested by grave-diggers. Many users are being hospitalized.

The 2nd hyperlink, below, indicates that young women have been arrested in Sri Lanka - after departing Bangkok- and are receiving long sentences following convictions.

https://theconversation.com/kush-what-is-this-dangerous-new-west-african-drug-that-supposedly-contains-human-bones-220608

https://open.substack.com/pub/bitcloutlabs/p/the-bone-drug-economy-when-grave?r=1woh2m&utm_medium=ios