A Deadly Pandemic That Is Hitting America

The fentanyl crisis has become one of the deadliest public health challenges to confront the United States today. As the number of drug overdose deaths soared to an all-time high, fentanyl — a powerful, synthetic form of opioid — emerged as the No. 1 cause of fatal drug overdoses in the United States.

Over the past few years, fentanyl-related deaths have surged, overwhelming emergency response systems, healthcare clinicians, and communities that are already grappling with the impact of the opioid epidemic.

Fentanyl: Potency and Trafficking

Fentanyl is a powerful opioid painkiller that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Intended for use in treating severe pain, fentanyl is now illegally trafficked and blended with other drugs, and the highly potent substance has led to a dramatic increase in accidental overdoses.

This crisis is especially alarming given the potency of fentanyl and the fact that even a few milligrams can be deadly — creating an environment where users can unknowingly consume a fatal amount.

The Spike in Deaths From Fentanyl Overdose

According to Yale Medicine, Fentanyl was involved in almost 70% of all drug overdose deaths in 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The overall toll of fentanyl-related deaths has skyrocketed in recent years, with more than 100,000 Americans dying each year. Individuals from every background have fallen victim to the epidemic, shattering families and forcing entire communities to reconcile with the fallout.

Fentanyl remains a scourge in the opioid crisis, with new iterations of the drug. There is more and more mixing of illicit fentanyl into other drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine, and even counterfeit prescription pills.

That makes fentanyl even harder for users to detect — and increases the risk of an overdose dramatically.

What Is It About Fentanyl That Is So Dangerous?

According to BBC, Fentanyl is a growing problem in the US. What makes fentanyl especially dangerous is its lethal potency. Even a small amount can lead to an overdose.

The drug slows down the body’s breathing capacity. The primary cause of death in these overdoses is respiratory depression, which is a direct effect of fentanyl use. Even people who are opioid tolerant are at risk because the potency of illicit fentanyl varies greatly, making it unpredictable.

To compound that problem, not only can users not rely on pills being what they say they are, but fentanyl is frequently cut with other drugs to maximize profits for traffickers.

This unpredictability is one reason that fentanyl overdose deaths have been so widespread. Adding to the crisis is that naloxone, a common antidote for opioid overdoses, is less effective against fentanyl because it is so powerful.

Who Is Most Impacted by the Fentanyl Crisis?

Fentanyl affects people of all ages and backgrounds, but some groups are disproportionately affected. The increase in deaths associated with fentanyl-laced products is particularly disturbing among younger generations, including teens and young adults.

Many of these people are taking counterfeit pills marketed as prescription medications, like oxycodone or Adderall, but which are often mixed with fentanyl without their knowledge.

Another vulnerable group consists of individuals already struggling with substance abuse, including people with a prior opioid use disorder.

Such individuals may be especially prone to accidentally overdosing, as they might be looking to buy illicit drugs to quell their drug cravings, unwittingly buying fentanyl-laced drugs.

The Impact of Drug Trafficking and Border Security

The flood of illicit fentanyl into the United States is primarily blamed on drug trafficking organizations. Most fentanyl in the country is produced in China and Mexico and smuggled into the United States through a variety of means, including the southern border.

Cartels and other criminal organizations are increasingly blending fentanyl with other substances to pay dirt, aware the drug’s small volume can cause a much more intense high.

Clamping down on fentanyl and related substances by tightening border controls has yielded mixed success. Despite heightened enforcement, fentanyl pours into the country, in large part because it is cheap and in high demand.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has reported increasing amounts of fentanyl seized at the southern border, but enforcement efforts have been challenged by the sheer amount of product passing through.

Government Responses

The U.S. government has pursued many routes to address the fentanyl crisis, yet the problem is still severe. Key efforts include:

• Increased law enforcement: The federal government has intensified efforts against drug traffickers; two other federal operations — Operation Crystal Shield and Operation Overwatch — were created to disrupt the fentanyl trade.
• Public health campaigns: The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has launched campaigns to increase awareness about the risks of fentanyl and to educate the public on recognizing and responding to overdoses.
• Harm reduction strategies: Several cities are concentrating on harm reduction strategies — like the distribution of naloxone (Narcan), a drug that can reverse opioid overdoses. Many states have enacted Good Samaritan laws to protect people who call 911 in an overdose from prosecution.
• Treatment and rehabilitation: There is growing momentum to increase access to treatment for people with opioid use disorder, including medication-assisted treatment (MAT) options such as methadone and buprenorphine.

The Effect on Communities and Families

The fentanyl epidemic has devastated families throughout the United States. In regions such as the Midwest, Northeast, and South, families are grappling with the devastation of losing loved ones to fentanyl overdoses.

Whole neighborhoods are struggling with the loss of their young people, with fentanyl deaths disproportionately affecting minority neighborhoods and poorer areas.

For families, the financial and emotional cost is immense. The death of a loved one from fentanyl overdose leaves behind not only a gaping hole but also typically greater economic hardship.

Local communities are left to deal with uprooted lives, a steep rise in funeral and medical costs, and the tragedy of losing someone to a problem they may not have comprehended.

What Needs to Be Done?

The Crisis of Fentanyl Is Complex — but We Can Reduce the Harm
The following steps may help mitigate the devastating impact of fentanyl on American communities:

• Better education and awareness: There is an urgent need for extensive drug education programs that tell the public, especially teenagers and young adults, about the risks of fentanyl-laced counterfeit drugs.
• Improved addiction treatment programs: Increasing access to rehabilitation and medication-assisted treatment programs for people with opioid use disorder will be critical to reducing the risk of fentanyl-related deaths.
• Improved drug enforcement: Although law enforcement has, at least recently, been able to reduce the activities of a cartel, additional funding to combat cartel operations is critical.
• Harm reduction efforts continuing: Increasing distribution of naloxone and safe consumption spaces and needle exchange programs can help prevent deaths in the meantime as the drug addiction crisis is addressed more broadly.

An Autopsy of Kal Penn And a Cry for Change

The fentanyl epidemic in the United States is an urgent public health and criminal justice crisis that requires immediate and sustained action.

As overdose deaths surge, it is critical that the U.S. government, healthcare systems, and communities collaborate to understand and address the underlying factors leading to fentanyl abuse, bolster prevention strategies, and provide timely resources for individuals afflicted with addiction.

A comprehensive strategy is the only effective way to stop the fentanyl crisis and bring it under control.