Are fentanyl deaths declining in Stanislaus County? Here is the most recent data
The number of fentanyl deaths in Stanislaus County reached triple digits for the third straight year. But county officials are projecting the death toll in 2024 was a 10% to 20% decrease.
Officials won’t know for sure until cases are closed out in March or April.
According to data released Thursday, the Coroner’s Office has confirmed 172 drug-related deaths last year, including 101 attributed to use of the highly lethal street drug fentanyl. There is a three-month lag in confirming suspected cases of fentanyl overdose or poisoning.
The coroner confirmed 138 fentanyl deaths in 2023 and 128 in 2022.
Dr. Bernardo Mora, medical director of county Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, said at Thursday’s Opioid Safety Coalition meeting that he expects the final data will show a 20% drop in fentanyl mortality in 2024. California is seeing a 20% decrease in fentanyl mortality, while other states are still recording increases or different levels of decreases, Mora said.
The one-year decline is encouraging for the agencies and individuals in the local coalition, but the group plans more awareness events and programs this year to keep warning the public about fentanyl.
The county District Attorney’s Office, along with BHRS, released a health alert Monday warning that a toxic industrial chemical, BTMPS, is in the illegal fentanyl supply in the Modesto area.
Modesto police made a recent traffic stop and seized what appeared to be four kilograms of illegal drugs, but lab testing revealed it was a kilogram of fentanyl mixed with BTMPS and three kilos of BTMPS. Authorities believe the white chemical powder, used to protect plastics from UV light, has become a new cutting agent to increase sales volume and profits for drug cartels.
Experts who track the nation’s fentanyl crisis suggest that drug lords are trafficking less fentanyl since the alarming death toll in 2023. Some suggest BTMPS is one of the substances used by cartels to adulterate fentanyl and make it less potent.
Health experts are not sure about the specific health dangers of ingesting or smoking BTMPS. Animal studies identified adverse effects, including cardiotoxicity, eye damage and sudden death at certain doses, according to UCLA Health.
A UCLA research team conducted testing last year that revealed large amounts of BTMPS in drugs sold as fentanyl in Los Angeles, Philadelphia and locations in Delaware, Maryland, Nevada, Washington and two other places in California.
This story was originally published February 13, 2025 at 2:23 PM.
