(PUEBLO, Colo.) — Just like how sampling wastewater helped public health experts track COVID-19, the City of Pueblo has launched a project to monitor high-risk substances, like the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl. "We have a contract with a company called Biobot Analytics, and they collect wastewater from the city and this is through excretion, so urine, waste, and things like that and they sample that for fentanyl," said Moremi Hablin, Data Analyst for the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment. While the current levels of fentanyl in Pueblo's wastewater remain low, public health officials are still raising concerns to avoid a potential crisis. All data collected is posted on the public health department's website under the Substance Use Wastewater Dashboard. "On Dec. 27, 2023, we recorded 31 milligrams per 1,000 people," Hablin explained. "Right now in March, which was collected on March 4, we've only recorded seven milligrams per 1,000 people. So although it's going up, it's still significantly lower than what we've recorded in the past." Colorado Springs police go undercover to fight fentanyl Health officials are optimistic the data will encourage more people to seek treatment at drug rehabilitation centers, while the Pueblo County Sherriff's Office (PCSO) continues its efforts to eliminate fentanyl from the streets. "The drug world is constantly evolving and fentanyl has completely taken over," said Lt. Dante Guadagnoli with PCSO. One of Pueblo's largest seizures came in 2023 after deputies arrested 30-year-old Jose Barron, who was found in possession of more than 9,000 fentanyl pills. "We're three months into this year and on one case, this office, as part of an investigation seized 3,000 pills from an individual who didn't have the best intentions," Lt. Guadagnoli said. The Sheriff's Office has deputies assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) fentanyl task force, which allows them to conduct investigations and make use of the same resources as the DEA. "Having the federal agencies, the programs made available to them, the funding made available to them and it benefits the local community," Lt. Guadagnoli said. DEA warns parents about fentanyl dangers amid spring break season In the meantime, the Sheriff's Office encourages parents to have difficult conversations with their children. "Social media is huge, a lot of these, especially in the younger generation, they're finding these dealers, is the only way to describe them on social media," Lt. Guadagnoli explained. "I would like to tell the parents, to get involved in their kids' lives, monitor their social media accounts, and have open communication with them." This weekend, an hour-long Nexstar special titled: "The Next Generation: Breaking Fentanyl's Grip" will air on FOX21 and SOCO CW. The special will focus on five families impacted by fentanyl. You can watch it on Sunday, March 30 at 5 p.m. on FOX21 and then at 9 p.m. on SOCO CW. ...read more read less