As the addiction and overdose crisis that has gripped the U.S. for two decades turns even deadlier, state governments are scrambling for ways to stem the destruction wrought by fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.
Highlights
- As the number of U.S.
- overdose deaths continues to soar, states are trying to take steps to combat a flood of the drug that has proved the most lethal – illicitly produced fentanyl.
- The urgency is heightened because of the deepening impact of the drugs.
- Republican state attorneys general are calling for more federal action, while some GOP governors are deploying National Guard units with a mission that includes stopping the flow of fentanyl from Mexico.
- The chemical precursors to the drugs are being shipped largely from China to Mexico, where much of the illicit fentanyl supply is produced in labs before being smuggled into the U. States are considering and adopting laws on two fronts: reducing the risk to users and increasing the penalties for dealing fentanyl.