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Was fentanyl responsible for more than 1,200 deaths in Wisconsin last year?

By Hope Karnopp
YES

In 2021, 1,280 people died of fentanyl overdose in Wisconsin, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

In 2019, 651 such deaths occurred, marking a 97% increase.

In August, DHS issued a public health advisory about the increase in overdose deaths related to fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.

"Over the last year, synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl, were identified in 91 percent of opioid overdose deaths and 73 percent of all drug overdose deaths," the DHS advisory stated. 

Republican 3rd Congressional District candidate Derrick Van Orden blames an "open border" with Mexico for the influx. 

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said in a 2020 report that while Mexico is a source of fentanyl, China is the biggest contributor.

"Currently, China remains the primary source of fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances," the agency said, either shipping it by consignment or sending fentanyl or its components through the mail. 

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The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration says China is the biggest source of fentanyl to the country
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Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
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