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

Washington Post

13 Mar 201901:55

Summary

TLDRFentanyl, 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.

Outlines

00:00

💊 Fentanyl: The Opioid Crisis Culprit

The script discusses the rise of fentanyl as a major threat in the opioid crisis. Originally developed in 1960 for severe pain treatment, fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than heroin or morphine. It was intended for medical use but began to be illicitly mixed with heroin in 2013, enhancing potency and leading to counterfeit pain pills resembling common medications like Vicodin or Xanax. The drug's potency is such that a milligram or two can cause an overdose. It is often shipped from Chinese labs or Mexican traffickers and can easily enter the U.S. via mail due to limited inspection capabilities of the Postal Service and Customs. The impact has been devastating, with overdose deaths skyrocketing from 3,000 in 2013 to nearly 30,000 in 2017, and fentanyl surpassing heroin as the most common drug in drug fatalities in 2016. The death toll has now surpassed the number of U.S. military casualties in the Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan wars combined.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Fentanyl

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is significantly more potent than other opioids such as heroin and morphine. It was originally developed in 1960 for medical use to treat severe pain that could not be managed with traditional painkillers. In the video script, fentanyl is highlighted as a drug that has become a major concern due to its illicit use and contribution to a significant number of overdose deaths. The script mentions that it is 50 times more powerful than heroin and 100 times more powerful than morphine, emphasizing its potency and the risks associated with its misuse.

💡Opioid

Opioids are a class of drugs that include both prescription painkillers and illegal drugs like heroin. They are known for their ability to relieve pain but also for their high potential for addiction and overdose. In the context of the video, opioids are the main theme as they discuss the dangers of powerful synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, and their impact on society due to their widespread abuse.

💡Illicit

Illicit refers to activities that are forbidden by law. In the script, the term is used to describe the illegal use and distribution of fentanyl, which has become a major public health issue. The video mentions that drug dealers mix illicit fentanyl with heroin to increase potency, and that it can be pressed into counterfeit pills, indicating the clandestine nature of its distribution.

💡Overdose

An overdose occurs when a person consumes a harmful or lethal dose of a substance, in this case, fentanyl. The script discusses the lethal nature of fentanyl, noting that only a few grains are enough to cause an overdose. The video emphasizes the severity of the situation by stating that fentanyl has been involved in a large number of overdose deaths, surpassing even the number of deaths in recent wars.

💡Traffickers

Traffickers are individuals or groups involved in the illegal trade of goods or substances. The script describes how traffickers have exploited the potency of fentanyl by mixing it with other drugs or pressing it into counterfeit pills. They are also noted to have found ways to move the drug easily, either by shipping from labs or purchasing from other traffickers, highlighting the role of trafficking in the spread of fentanyl.

💡Counterfeit

Counterfeit refers to something made or altered to resemble something else with the intent to deceive. In the script, counterfeit is used to describe pills that look like legitimate prescription medications such as Vicodin or Xanax but contain illicit fentanyl. This highlights the deceptive practices used by traffickers to distribute the drug and the danger it poses to unsuspecting users.

💡Morphine

Morphine is a powerful opioid painkiller derived from the opium poppy. It is used medically for severe pain management but is also referenced in the script to illustrate the relative potency of fentanyl, which is stated to be 100 times more powerful than morphine. This comparison underscores the extreme strength of fentanyl and the serious risks it presents.

💡Potent

Potent describes something having a strong or powerful effect. The script uses this term to describe the strength of fentanyl in comparison to other drugs. The potency of fentanyl is a key factor in its high risk of misuse and overdose, as even small amounts can have severe effects.

💡Medicinal Form

Medicinal form refers to the way a drug is administered for medical purposes. The script explains that fentanyl, when used in its medicinal form, is carefully prescribed by doctors for specific medical situations involving severe pain. This contrasts with its illicit use, which has led to widespread abuse and overdose.

💡Postal Service

The Postal Service is the system used for the delivery of mail. In the context of the video, it is mentioned as a means by which fentanyl can be shipped into the country undetected. The script points out the limitations of the Postal Service, US Customs, and border enforcement in inspecting the vast number of inbound packages, which allows drugs like fentanyl to enter the country.

💡CDC

The CDC, or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is a US government agency responsible for protecting public health and safety. In the script, the CDC is mentioned as having declared fentanyl the most common drug found in drug fatalities, surpassing heroin. This highlights the agency's role in identifying and addressing public health crises, such as the rise in fentanyl-related deaths.

Highlights

Fentanyl is 50 times more powerful than heroin and 100 times more powerful than morphine.

Developed in 1960, fentanyl was intended to treat severe pain in medical patients.

Fentanyl was initially seen as an alternative anesthetic for surgeries.

In medicinal form, fentanyl is carefully prescribed by doctors for specific situations.

Fentanyl began to appear on the streets in 2013, mixed into heroin to increase potency.

Illicit fentanyl can be pressed into counterfeit pain pills resembling Vicodin or Xanax.

A few milligrams of fentanyl can lead to an overdose.

Traffickers easily move fentanyl, often from Chinese labs or Mexican sources.

The US Postal Service and Customs only inspect a small fraction of inbound packages.

In 2013, over 3,000 people died from fentanyl overdoses.

By 2017, fentanyl overdose deaths reached nearly 30,000.

Fentanyl seizures in Arizona went from zero to hundreds of pounds in just a few years.

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

Fentanyl has caused more deaths than US military personnel killed in the Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan wars combined.

The number of fentanyl-related deaths has significantly increased in recent years.

The potency and availability of fentanyl have made it a major concern for law enforcement and public health.