Fentanyl Continues to Be the Leading Cause of Overdose Deaths.
- What’s Being Done to Combat Trafficking into the United States? -
September 04, 2025
Fentanyl continues to be the primary cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Even a very small amount of fentanyl (2 milligrams—the size of a few grains of sand) can cause a lethal overdose.
Much of this narcotic is being trafficked into the United States from Mexico, according to federal law enforcement. As part of efforts to combat trafficking, the Department of Homeland Security is targeting not just fentanyl itself, but also the chemicals and equipment used to make it that are largely coming from China.
The human costs of fentanyl and how it gets across the border
Fentanyl is a powerful man-made opioid prescribed by doctors to treat severe or chronic pain. A hundred times more potent than morphine, illicit fentanyl is often combined with heroin, cocaine, or methamphetamine. The drug is sold illegally in pill form, powder, or liquid.
Last year, synthetic opioids—primarily fentanyl—accounted for 60% of all overdose deaths in the United States. That’s about 48,000 people. Over the last several years (fiscal years 2021-2024), federal law enforcement under DHS captured or helped to capture more fentanyl, as well as the chemicals and equipment used to produce fentanyl, than before. This includes roughly:
- 130,000 pounds of illicit fentanyl
- 327,000 pounds of fentanyl precursor chemicals
- 9,900 pieces of equipment
|
