Las Cruces sees rise in unlawful fentanyl use

Since the beginning of the opioid epidemic in 2015, more than 325,000 people have died due to opioid overdoses with the majority of those being from fentanyl. Illegal fentanyl is typically smuggled across the US-Mexico border putting New Mexico on the frontlines. The state, which has already faced issues with drug abuse, ranks 11th in terms of opioid deaths per capita.