Although the opioid epidemic is still a significant concern, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has reported the first notable year-over-year decrease in drug overdose deaths since 2015. The number of overdose deaths fell from an all-time high of 2,180 in 2022 to 1,948 in 2023. Over 73% of these deaths were linked to opioids, indicating that approximately 1 in 47 deaths statewide was due to an opioid- involved overdose. While prescription opioids and heroin were once the main drivers of this epidemic, synthetic opioids like fentanyl have now become the leading cause of overdose deaths. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. While it is available by prescription for pain relief, fentanyl is also produced illegally. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, five out of every 10 pills seized contain a lethal dose of fentanyl. Efforts to address the issue of opioid overdoses have…