Fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opioid drug that has a legitimate use in painkilling--such as in advanced cancer--as well as other illegitimate uses in pleasurable situations. This addicting drug is 30 to 50 times more potent than heroine, and 100 times more than morphine. Analogues of fentanyl often cannot be detected in urine samplings. Most of the precursors of the drug come from China. who ship them to cartels in central American countries. The cartels arrange for the production of the final drug.
US deaths from fentanyl showed a dramatic increase in the 10 years from 2013 to 2023. In 2013 there were 3,105 deaths per 100,000 population. In 2023 that rate had skyrocketed to 72,776. The rate was over two times higher for men than for women. To show the seriousness of the problem, in 2023 fentanyl was the leading cause of death for Americans in the 18 to 45-year-old age bracket.
Donald Trump has made it a high priority to decrease illegal drug usage, especially that of fentanyl. He has closed the southern border (which obviously also decreased illegal immigration) and is attacking speedy boats in the Gulf that carry the illicit cargo. The amount of fentanyl being used in the US has consequently plummeted. The use of illicit drugs has decreased over 26% from its high point in 2023. NPR has produced eight theories that attempt to explain this dramatic decrease. Not surprisingly liberal NPR does not give Trump any credit in their theories. It is telling that the political Left in this country is opposed to the killing of drug traffickers from these boats after air strikes have demolished their boats. It is part of their efforts to undermine the authority of the Commander-in-Chief.
Peter Gilderson, Madison.
