Local mom & sheriff react to new House Bill helping prevent fentanyl death
Danyelle Burke North
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) says in 2022, there was over 73,000 fentanyl deaths in the U.S. That averages to about 200 deaths per day. A new house bill could help prevent more deaths.
Local mom Hilda Rapier lost her daughter to fentanyl nearly 5 years ago. She remembers the conversation she had with law enforcement the day her daughter passed.
“The detective told me he goes, ‘There’s so many fentanyl overdoses that it would be too hard to go after the dealers, you know’ and so, I had to scratch it off, as you know, accept what is,” said Rapier.
But Rapier isn’t alone. There’s many other victims in Yuma County. The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office says deaths peaked in 2020 with 61 fentanyl and opioid related deaths.
“2024, we had 10 fentanyl opioid related deaths. But the unfortunate part about that is that we’re seeing 10 deaths already so far this year, and we’re only in April, so we’re expecting an uptick again,” said YCSO Sergeant Edgar Guerra.
Now Arizona is taking action to stop fentanyl traffickers. This week, Governor Katie Hobbs signed House Bill 2607 into law, targeting people caught with 200 grams or more of fentanyl in a vehicle with the intent to sell. They now face at least 5 years in prison with the possibility of up to 15. Repeat offenders will get an extra 5 years.
Supporters say the tougher penalties will help protect Arizona families and keep dangerous drugs off the streets.
“Now, the bill will help hopefully deterrence, but if not deterrence, these folks that are trafficking these drugs are going away for a long period of time, preventing them from victimizing our communities,” said Sergeant Guerra.
As for Rapier, she says she’s thankful the bill will help protect our kids and keep our community safe.
“Throughout these years, hundreds and hundreds of young of our generation has died from one pill or one dose of whatever, and it needs to be dealt with. And I’m glad for that, for that bill,” said Rapier.