The rise in fentanyl-related deaths in the United States is a major public health crisis.
Over the years, the number of drug overdose deaths in the country has been steadily increasing, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened the situation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drug overdose deaths hit an all-time high of more than 106,000 in 2021.
The rise in overdose deaths can be attributed to the increasing use of synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl. In 2021, there were 70,601 overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone, which is a 61% increase from the previous year. Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times more potent than morphine. It is often added to other drugs such as heroin or cocaine to increase their potency, but users may not realize they are taking fentanyl until it is too late.
Fentanyl deaths in Northwest Georgia have increased by over 350 %. This clearly indicates that the problem is worsening, and something must be done.
The rise in fentanyl-related deaths is not limited to any particular region of the country. In fact, as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene pointed out, every state is a border state when it comes to fentanyl smuggling. Most fentanyl seizures occur at legal crossing points or interior vehicle checkpoints, not on illegal migration routes. This means that U.S. citizens, who are subject to less scrutiny when crossing legally, are often the best smugglers.
"Nearly 99 percent of these consumers are U.S. citizens."
One of the key factors driving the rise of fentanyl deaths is drug smuggling into the country. According to Cato.org, fentanyl smuggling is primarily funded by U.S. consumers who pay for illicit opioids. Nearly 99 percent of these consumers are U.S. citizens. In 2021, U.S. citizens accounted for 86.3 percent of convicted fentanyl drug traffickers, which is 10 times greater than convictions of illegal immigrants for the same offense.
Furthermore, over 90 percent of fentanyl seizures occur at legal crossing points or interior vehicle checkpoints, not on illegal migration routes.
This means that U.S. citizens, who are subject to less scrutiny when crossing legally, are the best smugglers. The location of smuggling makes sense because hard drugs at ports of entry are about 97 percent less likely to be stopped than are people crossing illegally between them. This alarming fact shows that America needs to tighten its borders and increase security measures.
However, it is important to note that blaming immigrants for the fentanyl problem is not the solution.
According to Cato.org, just 0.02 percent of the people arrested by Border Patrol for crossing illegally possessed any fentanyl whatsoever. The government exacerbated the problem by banning most legal cross-border traffic in 2020 and 2021, accelerating a switch to fentanyl (the easiest-to-conceal drug). During the travel restrictions, fentanyl seizures at ports quadrupled from fiscal year 2019 to 2021. Fentanyl went from a third of combined heroin and fentanyl seizures to over 90 percent. Annual deaths from fentanyl nearly doubled from 2019 to 2021 after the government banned most travel (and asylum).
The government's response to the fentanyl crisis has been less than satisfactory. The ban on most legal cross-border traffic in 2020 and 2021, which was intended to slow the spread of COVID-19, has only exacerbated the problem. The ban accelerated a switch to fentanyl, which is the easiest drug to conceal, and quadrupled fentanyl seizures at ports from fiscal year 2019 to 2021.
Fentanyl went from accounting for a third of combined heroin and fentanyl seizures to over 90% in just two years.
The statistics on fentanyl-related deaths are staggering, and the impact on American communities is undeniable. A comprehensive approach is needed to address this crisis, which includes addressing the root causes of addiction, providing access to treatment and support, and cracking down on the sources of illicit fentanyl.
More people become homeless, which means more crime and problems for all of us.
Seeing the rise of fentanyl deaths is scary and seems too easily available.
What are your thoughts on this?
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