HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — A new threat has emerged on the island, according to Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero, who over the weekend issued a special address on fentanyl, a synthetic opioid drug that is a national problem and now a local problem.
“Clearly, Guam is no stranger to the war on drugs, but I am speaking to you now because we are facing a silent killer, a potent and deadly substance known as fentanyl. This drug, a synthetic opioid, has ravaged communities across our nation in recent years, and now, it is beginning to cast its dark shadow over Guam,” the governor said.
Authorities have linked seven deaths in the last four years to fentanyl overdose.
“Fentanyl is not like any other drug. A single dose can kill you.… And lives have been lost to fentanyl simply because the victim believed he was taking some other drug. … To truly understand the gravity of this situation, we must look at the stark reality of fentanyl’s impact,” Leon Guerrero said.
The governor cited national statistics on fentanyl overdose deaths, reporting over 70,000 annually.
“That is nearly two-thirds of all opioid-related fatalities in America. Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, and just a few milligrams, an amount that can fit on the tip of a pencil, can kill you. These statistics are not mere numbers. They represent lives cut short, families torn apart and communities left to grieve,” she said.
The governor said the opioid’s potency and pervasiveness have made it a local problem. She noted that fentanyl has been used to lace heroin and methamphetamine to increase potency, with the potential to be lethal. It has also been used in counterfeit prescription pills.
“Just days ago, the (Drug Enforcement Administration) laboratory found that, of the fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills analyzed in 2022, six out of 10 now contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl,” said Leon Guerrero.
In early July, the Guam Police Department Chief Stephen Ignacio reported three fentanyl-related deaths on the island.
The first death Ignacio referred to was of a 26-year-old inmate at the Department of Corrections who died in custody in May before an autopsy discovered there was fentanyl in his system, Post files state. Ignacio said two other men in the community died from fentanyl after they were found to have a “cocktail mix” of illegal substances in their system, which included methamphetamine and cocaine.
In the face of the threat, the governor said efforts are underway to combat fentanyl.
“First, our local law enforcement and customs officials are actively working with ongoing federal task forces to intercept dangerous drugs, including fentanyl, before they reach our community,” Leon Guerrero said.
According to the governor, Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency seized 118 suspected fentanyl pills.
“Because fentanyl often disguises itself in other substances, the challenge they face is immense, but still, they will persist,” she said.
First responders, namely police officers, EMTs and paramedics have been equipped and trained to administer naloxone, which is used to “quickly reverse the effects of opioid overdoses, including those caused by drugs like heroin, fentanyl and prescription painkillers.”
In fact, the training has already helped save a life. Post files state that in early July, police were conducting a traffic stop when a woman they were interviewing began displaying symptoms of opioid overdose. The officers administered naloxone.
The governor recognized the “urgent need for comprehensive treatment options. Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center has successfully pursued grants to enhance our opioid treatment capacity.”
A big part of the war on fentanyl is education and prevention, said Leon Guerrero.
“That is why I am directing the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center, the Department of Youth Affairs and PBS (Guam) to partner with (the Guam Department of Education) and develop the ‘One Pill Can Kill’ campaign. This initiative will aggressively target our public and private schools, ensuring that students from middle school onward understand the deadly risks associated with fentanyl,” the governor said.
Leon Guerrero also committed to enacting new laws to punish those putting the lethal drug on the streets.
“Like those just passed by our Legislature to unequivocally punish convicted drug kingpins with decades in prison, not months or years. Moreover, if someone dies because you knowingly provided them with fentanyl or a fentanyl-laced substance, you are responsible for their death, and you will be punished,” the governor said.
Leon Guerrero asked the community to be vigilant and for those struggling with addiction to seek help.
“But most of all, let us stand together as one community committed to protecting our families, our friends and our island. If you are struggling with drug addiction, we are here to help you. We encourage you to seek help and (to) call the TOHGE Warmline at 671-787-9276 or 671-686-9276,” she said.
