Why the Denver’s City and County building will light up blue on Wednesday

DENVER (KDVR) — On Wednesday evening, the Denver City and County building will be lit up blue to remember lives lost to opioids and increase awareness about the dangers of fentanyl.

Aug. 21 is National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the holiday was established in 2022 to “raise public awareness of the dangers of illegally made fentanyl and to prevent overdose deaths.”

Law enforcement agencies in Colorado have been finding more and more fentanyl in recent years. The Rocky Mountain DEA seized more than twice as much fentanyl in 2023 compared to 2022. This year, fentanyl seizures are on pace to break the record again .

Fentanyl is linked to the increasing amount of fatal overdoses in the Mile High City, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

There will be a gathering from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in front of the Denver City and County building with speakers and a candlelight vigil at 8:30 p.m. to honor the thousands of Coloradans killed by opioids in recent years, according to the Maddie Wright Foundation .

Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair, photos and posters of loved ones and candles. There will also be time at the end of the event dedicated to the public to speak.

The Maddie Wright Foundation website has resources to help Denverites order free Narcan and test strips, as well as educational information about how to detect fentanyl and fake pills, and more.

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