Clark County fentanyl deaths since 2018 surpass Nevada war deaths since 1863

Ryan Matthey
·3 min read

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – The fentanyl crisis is hitting Clark County hard, so much so it’s surpassed a dauntingly historic milestone.

Data from the U.S. Army Center of Military History and Nevada Department of Veterans Services reveal 741 Nevadans died in wars – from the Civil to Afghanistan – starting at the state’s inception in 1863:

  • Civil War: 32 Nevadan war deaths

  • World War 1: 194

  • World War II: 349

  • Korea: 28

  • Vietnam:84

  • Iraq: 34

  • Afghanistan: 20

Juxtaposed to that number, data from the Clark County Coroner’s office as of April 12 reveal 950 people in Clark County alone have died from fentanyl poisoning. This war grows harsher as deaths multiply year over year:

  • 2018: 49 Clark County fentanyl-related deaths

  • 2019: 71

  • 2020: 207

  • 2021: 248

  • 2022: 285

  • 2023: 302

It’s a war on the synthetic opioid – meaning it’s chemically altered to be more potent than natural opioids – that has been found laced in other substances it’s not supposed to be.

8 News Now has reported on teenagers unsuspectingly overdosing on fentanyl-laced pills to those experiencing homelessness turning to it.

Guiseppe Mandell has been in recovery for nearly five years and is vocal about the effects of his own brother’s death from opioid addiction. He’s now attempting to save others as an outreach associate for Desert Hope Treatment Center, an addiction treatment facility.

But, it’s easier said than done.

“Fentanyl is a dollar a pill,” Mandell said. “It’s cheap and more effective, and more accessible now, you know? And now, people are OD’ing smoking it.”

“I don’t think I would be alive today if Fentanyl was out here then.”

The county is making strides to respond, like creating 240 new beds in the self-described first-of-its-kind opioid treatment center and starting an opioid task force to improve the treatment already available.

But, to Jennie Slate and Holly Wever, what’s missing is the frontlines of the home and school. The pair created Second Chance 5K – an annual fundraiser that benefits other nonprofits fighting the problem – after losing siblings to opioid addiction.

Slate, specifically, lost two sisters to fentanyl. The trauma turned into a running start to expand conversations about addiction that were once “fear-based” than constructive.

“I don’t see the discussion in school happening,” Slate said. “It’s not a shameful thing. It’s like, ‘I need help, so where do I turn?’ There’s help all over.”

“The change starts in the home,” Wever added. “Normalizing conversations around drugs and addiction and parents understanding that addiction is not just about trying it once and getting hooked, there’s emotional stuff attached to it.”

Second Chance 5K has their annual run on Saturday morning in Summerlin.

The U.S. Secretary of State reports fentanyl as the new leading cause of death for Americans between 18 and 49 years old. The Drug Enforcement Administration says it seized more than $78.4 million of fentanyl-laced fake pills and nearly 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder in the U.S. last year.

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