Substance use continues to impact communities across Utah. According to the Utah Department of Health & Human Services, provisional data from 2022 showed that 541 people in the state died from drug overdoses, 74% of which involved opioids. Over the past three years (2020–2022), the number of fatal overdoses, including those involving opioids, has remained relatively stable.
In 2024, the situation remained serious, with 591 Utahns losing their lives to drug overdoses, an average of 49 deaths per month. Of these, 27% involved at least one prescription opioid, while 43% were linked to fentanyl.
In response, the Utah State Board of Education Prevention Team partners closely with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Substance Use and Mental Health. Together, they work to implement effective prevention strategies. These same evidence-based practices not only address substance use but also play a critical role in preventing suicide, bullying, and other behavioral health challenges affecting Utah’s youth.