If you’ve been following the news, you know fentanyl is getting a lot of attention. But what exactly is it? Why is it so dangerous? And why has it become such a major issue?
Fentanyl is an opioid that is 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine. The CDC says there are two types of fentanyl. Both are synthetic opioids, but one is pharmaceutical and the other is illegal. Doctors prescribe the pharmaceutical type to treat severe pain, which may occur after surgery or may result from a very serious disease.
Most fentanyl-related overdoses are caused by the illegal variety. “It is distributed through illegal drug markets for its heroin-like effect,” says the CDC. “It is often added to other drugs because of its extreme potency. And that makes drugs cheaper, more powerful, more addictive, and more dangerous.”
Illegally-made fentanyl (IMF) is available on drug markets in both liquid and powder forms. The CDC explains that “Powdered fentanyl looks just like many other drugs. It is commonly mixed with drugs like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamines and made into pills that resemble other prescription opioids. Fentanyl-laced drugs are extremely dangerous, and many people may be unaware that their drugs are laced with fentanyl.” IMF can sometimes be found in nasal sprays, eye drops, or in small candies.
Take a look at this statistic. It’s estimated that between November 2019 and October 2023, there have been over 270,000 deaths in the U.S. from illegal opioids like fentanyl. That totals approximately 80,000 deaths per year, or well over 200 deaths per day. The National Institute of Health says that synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, are now the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths in the U.S.
Helpful But Dangerous
Doctors sometimes prescribe fentanyl to patients who need a strong pain reliever. The problem is illegal fentanyl, which is made in labs and associated with drug cartels, drug dealers, and overdoses; even a small quantity of this when mixed with another illegal drug can produce a “a cheaper option for getting high” than other drugs, says the NIH (National Institute of Health).
Like heroin, morphine, and other opioids, fentanyl binds to the body’s opioid receptors – areas of the brain that control pain and emotion. After someone takes these repeatedly, the brain becomes used to it and it is more difficult for the user to feel pleasure from anything besides the drug. When that happens, drug seeking and drug use take over one’s life, the NIH explains.
People who overdose on illegal fentanyl may experience extreme happiness, which explains its lure. But an overdose also can produce many unwanted and dangerous side effects, including: drowsiness, nausea, confusion, constipation, and breathing difficulties. When the latter occurs, breathing may slow or even stop; this reduces the amount of oxygen that reaches the brain and may lead to coma, brain damage, or even death.
According to the Council on Foreign Relations, fentanyl and other opioids are fueling the worst drug crisis in the history of the United States.
These days, many news stories are reported with a political slant, especially in the months leading up to a presidential election; this year will not be an exception. That’s why developments regarding illegal fentanyl, which is a real issue, are also becoming a subject of political discussion. That explains why many overdose deaths are being blamed on the porous southern border, which has become an entry port for illegal fentanyl and other drugs.
There has been a “tsunami of overdose deaths as disastrous open southern border policies flood the nation with illegal drugs,” according to an article on Zero Hedge. And this is resulting in “chaos across major metro areas.” Even worse, it has resulted “in the loss of countless American lives, many of them young people.”
A Chinese Connection?
As with other illegal drugs, there is a sophisticated network behind obtaining, processing, and distributing illegal fentanyl in the U.S. Zero Hedge says that China plays a big role in this crisis by shipping illegal fentanyl directly to the U.S., or by indirectly sending it first to Canada or Mexico and then via mail to America.
Drug dealers have a variety of schemes to peddle their wares. For example, they sometimes mix fentanyl with or sell it as heroin in the Canadian drug market and then smuggle it into the U.S. Another of their schemes is to sell it in counterfeit prescription pills and smuggle those into the U.S. from Mexico. Whatever their methods, the price is very high in dollar terms and even higher in the numbers of deaths and injuries that result.
In addition, the economic costs of illegal fentanyl addiction are staggering. The Joint Economic Committee of Congress estimated the total opioid epidemic costs to the U.S. were nearly $1.5 trillion in 2020, and this number has certainly increased since then.
The Council on Foreign Relations reports that China is the leading manufacturer of fentanyl ingredients, and that most of the fentanyl smuggled into the US from Mexico is made using chemicals from China.
A Ray Of Hope?
Efforts to control the illegal fentanyl trade are falling short of their objective, as is evidenced by the incredible number of people becoming addicted and the enormous amount of money involved. However, it is possible that more will be done as the presidential election draws closer and the fentanyl epidemic becomes even more of a topic of political discussion.
Actually, it already is an important one. A recent Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll of nearly 5,000 registered voters showed that eight in ten of them in seven swing states believe that fentanyl misuse is either a “very important” or at least a “somewhat important” issue when deciding whom to vote for in November. Amazingly, those voters rated fentanyl as important as abortion, climate change, and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
Soon after President Biden was sworn in, he said one of his main objectives was to solve the overdose crisis. Fast forward to today and that still hasn’t happened. Zero Hedge points out that the wide-open southern border may come with a very high price tag for Biden.
Comparing this to the sealed and secure border under Trump may not bode well for Biden and other Democrats. But politicians read the political tea leaves better than anyone else, so it’s just possible this will encourage them to finally do whatever is necessary to manage this crisis.
Sources: cdc.gov; cfr.org; nih.gov; nyc.gov; zerohedge.com; YouTube: Fentanyl Drug Facts: National Institute of Drug Abuse
Gerald Harris is a financial and feature writer. Gerald can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
