Geneva is preparing for a drug crisis that hasn’t yet arrived.
Authorities say there have been no confirmed cases of fentanyl in the canton, the synthetic opioid blamed for around 73,000 deaths in the United States in 2023.
But the State Council is taking no chances, adopting a new plan to tackle these highly potent substances, sometimes called “zombie drugs.”
Officials warn fentanyl can be up to 250 times stronger than heroin and is difficult to detect, increasing the risk of fatal overdoses.
The strategy includes public awareness campaigns, drug-checking, wastewater monitoring, and wider access to the antidote naloxone.
Authorities say the goal is simple - being able to act quickly if the threat emerges.
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