Politics & Perspective
Fentanyl Makes an Already Dangerous Drug Market More Deadly than Ever by B RY C E PA R D O & D AV I D L U C K E Y More than 100,000 Americans died from a drug shrinking the population of drug users either indirectly, overdose in 2021 — double the number that died in 2015 by reducing their consumption through elevated prices, and more than the number that died from firearms and or directly, by transitioning users into drug treatment car crashes combined. Drug overdose is now the leading programs. But we won’t be able to simply arrest, seize, or treat cause of death for people aged 18 to 45. This tragedy has played out for decades, but, our way out of this crisis. A new strategic approach is since 2014, it has worsened sharply. That year, dealers needed, which is what prompted the formation of a joint legislative-executive and traffickers began branch Commission on introducing illegally Combatting Synthetic manufactured fentanyl into Opioid Trafficking, in 2020. the market, initially The bipartisan Commission concealing it as heroin, was guided by a goal to and eventually pressing it save American lives. into tablets made to look The Commission’s like genuine prescription report includes medication. recommendations that the Many of the same United States must work traits that make fentanyl an with the two major suppliers attractive drug for illegal of the chemicals needed to suppliers and Mexican make fentanyl—China and traffickers can make it a India―to stem the flow of death sentence to users. As precursor chemicals needed a synthetic opioid, fentanyl for its production. But even is not made from poppy, if a disruption in the flow but chemicals sourced from of necessary chemicals large industrial chemical were successful, it could sectors in China and We won’t be able to simply be short-lived if traffickers India. It is cheap and easy arrest, seize, or treat our way out in Mexico find new sources to produce. By weight, of this crisis. A new strategic of chemicals. Nonetheless, fentanyl is up to fifty times greater efforts to improve more potent than heroin, approach is needed. oversight of large chemical meaning very little is industries in Asia are needed needed to meet America’s to reduce the availability of demand for opioids. Perhaps only a few pickup truck loads of pure fentanyl are many common chemicals used to illegally manufacture drugs. Possible supply disruptions, even temporary ones, needed to supply our country for an entire year. Use of street-sourced drugs has always been risky, might save lives. That said, over the long run, synthetic opioids are but today’s level of risk is simply unprecedented. Many traditional drug policy goals have focused on raising the likely to increasingly reach illegal drug markets. Failure price of drugs sold illegally through seizures; reducing to recognize and respond to how rapidly these markets the demand for drugs through prevention programs; have changed with the arrival of illegally manufactured or promoting treatment to get those who use drugs into synthetic opioids will continue to put many Americans rehabilitation. In all cases, the focus has been about at risk of exposure to fentanyl, endangering the lives of 8
RIPON FORUM May 2022
