How Can The United States Tackle The Growing Fentanyl Crisis?

Fentanyl is the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 49, according to the Washington Post (Lean Left bias). What can be done? 

Flooding the Market: A Reuters (Center bias) article described how fentanyl quickly became the opioid of choice for Mexican cartels, displacing heroin. Fentanyl’s rise to prominence is visible in U.S. Customs and Border Protection data. The article states, “Fentanyl seizures at southern border ports of entry ticked up to 600 kg in 2018 before surging to 7,200 kg in 2022… Over the same period, heroin seizures fell more than 80% from over 2,000 kg.”

Congressional Action: Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) (Lean Right bias) called for congressional action, asserting, “Cartels, gangs, and mobs are flooding our streets with poison. Hundreds of thousands of people are dying as a result. If we don't try to protect them, we aren't worthy of being called public servants.” Rubio called for the passage of bills aimed at “empowering law enforcement,” sanctioning drug traffickers, and more. 

Harder Enforcement, Harder Drugs: A piece in The Daily Beast (Left bias) warned that clamping down on illicit fentanyl “merely induces cartels to synthesize more potent analogs of fentanyl… which can be easier to smuggle in smaller sizes and subdivide into more units to sell.” The results of harder enforcement, the article states, are harder drugs. “If lawmakers were serious, they would remove government obstacles that make it difficult or even illegal for harm reduction organizations to save lives in their communities.”