Colorado voters face Proposition 132 as fentanyl deaths keep rising

Overdose deaths in Colorado continue to rise, up almost 12% since April 2025, as fentanyl dominates the illicit drug market. Proposition 132, placed on the November ballot by the conservative organization Advance Colorado, would classify any amount of fentanyl as a felony and impose a mandatory eight-year prison term for distribution, eliminating existing sentencing reductions. The proposal builds on the 2022 Fentanyl Accountability and Prevention Act, which increased penalties and funded naloxone and test strips but did not expand evidence-based treatments such as methadone or buprenorphine.

A study led by a public-health researcher found that the 2022 law raised arrests without improving treatment uptake or reducing overdose deaths. In contrast, Larimer County, where overdose deaths have fallen by about 42% since 2021, attributes its success to comprehensive treatment programs, widespread naloxone distribution, and expanded harm-reduction services. The initiative’s narrow focus on fentanyl ignores the fact that roughly 40% of Colorado overdoses involve both opioids and stimulants, raising concerns about its effectiveness.