The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) introduced the outcomes of a widespread drug operation spanning Might to September, leading to over 10 million fentanyl drugs and what they are saying is 36 million deadly doses of the drug. DEA brokers blame the mass manufacturing of the vast majority of these drugs on two explicit cartels, the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Technology Cartel (CJNG).
Whereas scooping up cartel-manufactured fentanyl off the streets appears like motive to have a good time—needless to say that is solely half the issue, and as many as 40% of opioid overdose deaths come straight from the doctor with a prescription, in line with the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Companies. Fentanyl kills indiscriminately, it doesn’t matter what the supply. In keeping with the Nationwide Security Council, younger Individuals are more likely to die of an opioid overdose than a car crash.
Nonetheless, it’s extremely doubtless lives had been saved within the course of throughout this explicit operation. The DEA launched the statistics in a September 30 press release.
As a part of the One Capsule Can Kill initiative—a public Consciousness Marketing campaign to teach the general public of the hazards of counterfeit drugs similar to fentanyl—the DEA and its regulation enforcement companions seized large portions of opioid medication.
How intensive is the opioid epidemic? The DEA seized over 10.2 million fentanyl drugs and about 980 kilos of fentanyl powder throughout the interval of Might 23 by September 8.
Typically, fentanyl is pressed into blue, round pills that seem like pharmaceutical in nature, so folks suppose they’re secure. Typically, they’re not. As well as, they’ve been displaying up in several colours, dubbed “rainbow fentanyl” by the media and the DEA itself. Even folks with a tolerance to oxycodone or hydrocodone won’t stand an opportunity with fentanyl or its analogs like carfentanil.
In keeping with the DEA’s math, the quantity of fentanyl seized is equal to over 36 million deadly doses of the drug faraway from the availability. DEA brokers additionally seized 338 weapons together with rifles, shotguns, pistols, and hand grenades.
“Fentanyl is answerable for killing hundreds of individuals within the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV). We’re working diligently with our federal, state, and native companions to mitigate this public well being disaster,” mentioned Jarod Neglect, DEA Washington Division’s Particular Agent in Cost. “Our crew is actively seizing important quantities of lethal fentanyl and dealing exhausting on impactful operations and group occasions to halt the distribution of those lethal medication into our communities. Mexican cartels are pushing lethal faux drugs, typically laced with fentanyl, into our neighborhoods to take advantage of the opioid disaster. We’ll relentlessly pursue criminals who’re bringing such lethal medication and proceed to work to maintain you and your households secure. Many individuals who die from fentanyl poisoning unknowingly consumed it combined into faux drugs or different medication. Our message to the general public is that you just by no means will be sure what’s in them and that simply ‘One Capsule Can Kill’.”
Practically 400 circumstances had been investigated, and 51 circumstances are linked to overdose poisonings. DEA brokers linked 35 of the circumstances instantly to at least one or each of the first Mexican cartels accountable for almost all of fentanyl in the USA, which is the Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG.
Right here’s how issues have modified, nevertheless: In keeping with the DEA, 129 investigations are linked to social media platforms like Snapchat, Fb Messenger, Instagram, and TikTok. Anybody within the hashish business has seen plugs brazenly promoting all types of medicine.
The final time statistics like this had been supplied was the One Capsule Can Kill Part II outcomes, which had been introduced by DEA Administrator Anne Milgram final December.
The DEA says that fentanyl is the deadliest drug menace dealing with this nation. “In 2021, a report variety of Individuals—107,622—died from a drug poisoning or overdose,” the DEA launch reads. “Sixty-six p.c of these deaths will be attributed to artificial opioids similar to fentanyl.”
The fentanyl downside is highlighted by particular occasions, together with a current incident in suburban Los Angeles that concerned drugs laced with fentanyl that had been disguised as one thing else. The Pasadena Police Department seized 328,000 fentanyl pills in a single operation on September 24, bringing their complete seized to roughly 708,500 drugs. Then simply minutes away in Whittier, police seized eight kilos of drugs laced with fentanyl.
Extra assets for folks and the group will be discovered on DEA’s Fentanyl Awareness web page, and the DEA created a brand new useful resource, “What Every Parent and Caregiver Needs to Know About Fake Pills.”