In the trenches of the opioid epidemic that continues to grip communities, the Northern Colorado Drug Task Force (NCDTF) takes on a multifaceted approach to combat the spread of the potent opioid, Fentanyl. While law enforcement officers and crime scene investigators are the frontliners when a life is lost to Fentanyl, there's an additional force working in the shadows, the Victim Response Team assists the families torn by abrupt and irrevocable loss, according to Larimer County.

The challenge for these agencies extends beyond the immediate response to focus on tracing and prosecuting the dealers responsible for these lethal sales, however, despite the complexities in building evidence-based cases, Northern Colorado has seen success with class 1 drug felony charges for Unlawful Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death, a law put in place in 2022. The impact of these legal victories is two-fold, dealers are taken off the streets and potential future loss of life is mitigated, yet with the legal process's conclusion the families affected by these tragedies find their grief journey is far from over and they face the reality of their new existence bereft of a loved one, every waking moment a testament to the absence that peppers their daily lives.

Dan Bontz, a detective from the Loveland Police Department working with the NCDTF, has witnessed first-hand the devastation brought by Fentanyl and has channeled his experience toward the advocacy for family support. His involvement has extended to the educational front, informing law enforcement professionals about the resources available for those impacted by an overdose death. As stated by Larimer County, Bontz joined the advisory board for the Colorado-based non-profit Voices for Awareness/Facing Fentanyl in 2024, an organization that provides a platform for awareness, healing, and remembrance.