The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has issued a warning about the increasing danger of fentanyl entering the United States. According to a recent report released by the DEA, there is a higher average purity in pills containing fentanyl that are being smuggled into the country by Mexican drug cartels.
In 2022, the average fentanyl pill was found to contain 2.4 milligrams of fentanyl, with a range of potency from 0.03 mg to 9 mg. The lethal dose of fentanyl is around 2 milligrams, making the average pill highly dangerous. The DEA has reported that approximately seven out of 10 fake pills now contain a deadly dose of fentanyl, up from four out of 10 in 2021.
The purity of powdered fentanyl is also on the rise, with the average purity of powder samples reaching 19.2 percent in 2022, marking a 33 percent increase since 2021. This increase in potency poses a growing threat to users, as noted by the DEA.
The DEA has identified two Mexican criminal syndicates, the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels, as the primary sources of fentanyl entering the U.S. These cartels rely on global supply chain networks, obtaining precursor chemicals and pill presses from companies in China to manufacture the drugs in clandestine labs in Mexico. The drugs are then distributed through extensive networks into the United States.
Local gangs in major U.S. cities are also contributing to the rise in overdose deaths, with some gang members establishing direct connections with cartel-connected wholesalers. These gangs are involved in distributing fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and other drugs, as well as committing violent crimes in U.S. communities.
The impact of illegal fentanyl is significant, with approximately 38,000 Americans dying from fentanyl overdoses in the first half of 2023. Synthetic opioids were involved in over 74,000 overdose deaths in 2022. These alarming statistics underscore the severity of the overdose epidemic in the U.S.
Efforts are being made to address the overdose crisis, with initiatives aimed at providing greater access to opioid-reversal drugs like naloxone. The White House recently launched a nationwide call-to-action to combat the overdose epidemic and save lives.
The ongoing rise in overdose deaths highlights the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to tackle the overdose epidemic and prevent further loss of life. Please rephrase this sentence.
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