From grieving Butte parents to overwhelmed police and state funding, Montana tackles fentanyl crisis

BUTTE — Just under the beauty of Montana, of her Mining City, lurks a killer.

Fentanyl is posing a serious danger across the U.S. The drug, which is 50 times more potent than heroin, kills an estimated 150 people a day across the United States.

Montana is not immune to the danger, with deaths reported across the Treasure State - Between 2020 and 2024, 796 Montanans died from unintentional overdoses, with 345 deaths, or 43 percent, caused by fentanyl. In Butte, 21 people died, making Silver Bow County the highest death rate per population in Montana.

But, behind every overdose statistic is a family changed forever.

Butte parents demand answers after son's fentanyl overdose death amid Mining City's addiction crisis Butte parents demand answers after son's fentanyl overdose death amid