There are some encouraging signs in the fight against fentanyl. The U.S. Justice Department of Drug Enforcement Administration reports that current seizures by DEA agents show a dramatic reduction in the average potency of illicit fentanyl pills in the United States for the first time since 2021.
Data from DEA national lab results on illegal fentanyl pills shows a drop in the lethal potency of drugs on the street from 76% two years ago in 2023 to 29% today in 2025. Additionally, fentanyl powder purity decreased to 10.3% - down from 19.5% during the same time period.
The DEA attributes the decline in potency and purity to sustained enforcement and pressure on international supply chains that have blocked the global supply network of precursor chemicals from China to the Mexican border. This allowed the DEA to hit the illicit drug trade from every directions. As a result, the Mexican cartels have been forced to alter their operations, which includes diluting their product and even charging more per pill.
Additionally, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol reports that fentanyl seizures in the southern border are down by more than 50%. The DEA acknowledges this progress but reminds the public that illegal fentanyl continues to kill. Since 2021, synthetic opioids have claimed nearly 325,000 American lives. This past year, 50,000 people lost their lives to fentanyl poisoning.
Just because potency may be diminished, that doesn't mean that these pills are safe. You still never know what kind of pill you may be getting.
The DEA continues to intensify enforcement efforts and public awareness campaigns, such as the Fentanyl Free America initiative, to address the ongoing crisis.
To learn more, visit: https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2025/12/03/dea-launches-fentanyl-free-america-initiative-combat-synthetic-drug-8
No comments:
Post a Comment