How fentanyl triggered the deadliest drug epidemic in U.S. history

Summary

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times stronger than heroin, has become a major public health crisis since its illicit introduction in 2013. Initially developed for severe pain management, its potency made it a preferred drug for dealers, leading to a surge in overdose deaths from 3,000 in 2013 to nearly 30,000 in 2017. The drug's ease of distribution, often from Chinese labs or Mexican traffickers, and its concealment in mail have exacerbated the issue. The CDC declared fentanyl the leading cause of drug fatalities in 2016, with deaths exceeding 67,000, surpassing US military losses in the Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan wars.

Takeaways

• 💊 Fentanyl is a powerful opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine.
• 🏥 Originally developed in 1960, fentanyl was intended for medical use to treat severe pain that other painkillers couldn't manage.
• 🔍 In its medicinal form, fentanyl is carefully prescribed by doctors for specific medical situations.
• 🚫 However, since 2013, fentanyl has become a significant street drug, with dealers mixing it illicitly to enhance the potency of their products.
• 💊 Illicit fentanyl can be pressed into counterfeit pain pills resembling legitimate medications like Vicodin or Xanax.
• 📦 The drug is often shipped directly from Chinese labs or purchased from Mexican traffickers, arriving in the US through mail that is rarely inspected.
• 📈 Overdose deaths involving fentanyl have risen dramatically, with nearly 30,000 deaths in 2017, compared to just over 3,000 in 2013.
• 🚨 The CDC declared fentanyl the most common drug found in drug fatalities in 2016, surpassing heroin.
• 🔝 Fentanyl-related deaths have now surpassed the number of US military personnel killed in the Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan wars combined, totaling more than 67,000.
• 🛃 Law enforcement has seen a significant increase in the seizure of fentanyl, with Arizona going from zero seizures four years ago to hundreds of pounds and hundreds of thousands of tablets seized last year.
• 🚨 The scale of the fentanyl crisis is underscored by the fact that it has become a leading cause of drug-related deaths in the United States.

Q & A

What is fentanyl and how does it compare to other opioids in terms of potency?

Fentanyl is a powerful opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine.

When was fentanyl developed and for what purpose?

Fentanyl was developed in 1960 to treat medical patients with severe pain, particularly when existing painkillers were not effective.

How is fentanyl intended to be used in the medical field?

In the medical field, fentanyl is carefully prescribed by doctors for specific situations involving severe pain, such as during surgeries.

When did fentanyl start to become a problem on the streets?

Fentanyl started to become a problem on the streets in 2013.

How do drug dealers enhance their products using fentanyl?

Drug dealers mix a small amount of illicit fentanyl into heroin to make it more potent and press the white powder into counterfeit pain pills that resemble Vicodin or Xanax.

Why is fentanyl particularly dangerous in terms of overdose risk?

Fentanyl is dangerous because it is measured in milligrams, and only a few grains can cause an overdose.

How do traffickers typically move fentanyl into the United States?

Traffickers move fentanyl into the United States by shipping it directly from Chinese labs or purchasing it from traffickers in Mexico. The drug often slips through the mail undetected.

What has been the trend in fentanyl-related overdose deaths from 2013 to 2017?

Fentanyl-related overdose deaths increased significantly from more than 3,000 deaths in 2013 to close to 30,000 deaths in 2017.

What did law enforcement in Arizona report about fentanyl seizures over recent years?

Law enforcement in Arizona reported that they seized zero fentanyl in 2013 but hundreds of pounds of fentanyl powder and hundreds of thousands of tablets in subsequent years.

What distinction did fentanyl achieve according to the CDC in 2016?

In 2016, the CDC declared fentanyl the most common drug found in drug fatalities, surpassing heroin.

How does the number of deaths caused by fentanyl compare to US military casualties in major wars?

Fentanyl has killed more than 67,000 people, which is more than the number of US military personnel killed during the Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan wars combined.