Governor Brad Little announced Thursday Idaho will put up to $1 million toward efforts to confront the growing threat of fentanyl in the state.
According to a press release from the Governor’s Office, the funds will be used in the coming weeks for two purposes – to purchase additional roadside testing equipment and triple the current ability to get fentanyl off the streets more quickly, and to start a new large-scale paid media campaign to educate the public about the dangers of fentanyl. The campaign will be coordinated by the Idaho State Police in cooperation with the Governor’s Office of Drug Policy.
The Idaho State Police also has deployed $250,000 approved by the Legislature this year as part of the Governor’s “Leading Idaho” plan for Operation Esto Perpetua. The funds are being used to hire more investigators and increase patrol hours for drug interdiction.
Additionally Gov. Little shared a new observational report today from the Citizens Action Group on Fentanyl he assembled in the spring. The group spent two months traveling the state holding public meetings to listen to Idahoans about the impact of fentanyl on their communities. The observational report is being handed over to the Governor’s Law Enforcement Panel. The panel will closely examine the report and come up with concrete recommendations for Governor Little to include in his budget and priorities, which he will roll out in his 2023 State of the State and Budget Address in January. (Governor’s Office)
