COMBATTING THE FENTANYL CRISIS AMONG YOUNG AMERICANS
Lily McNeely DECEMBER 2022
1. THE FENTANYL CRISIS
“In 2021, 71,000 [people] died from fentanyl or fentanyl-related substances” (Energy and Commerce Committee). Fentanyl is dangerous because it is potent and cheap to make. Drug traffickers lace street drugs with fentanyl and distribute them throughout the U.S. More young Americans (ages 14–18) are overdosing than ever, and they are not educated on the risks of fentanyl-laced drugs. Drug cartels use social media as a tactic to increase illicit drug sales, targeting youth within the U.S. The U.S. government should tighten border control to combat this surge in overdoses. One potential approach to cut off black markets is the decriminalization of fentanyl. Although these pieces seem incompatible, they both help destroy incentives for the cartel: thwarting their U.S. revenue streams and providing for resource reallocation towards border control. These two approaches need to be combined in the case of fentanyl.
2. WHAT WE KNOW
“Illicit fentanyl overdose deaths among teens accounted for 77% of adolescent overdose deaths in 2021” (Energy and Commerce Committee).
This is a national emergency for adolescents. The United States Government is responsible for preventing drugs from entering and controlling drug circulation within the country. While traditional perspectives favor tight restrictions and enforcement, progressive ideas surround decriminalization and focus on addiction aid. The death rates resulting from drug overdose are at a peak: Between 2010 and 2021, the youth overdose rate rose from 2.36 per 100,000 to 5.49 per 100,000 (Friedman). While this issue becomes more and more pressing, the cultural perception surrounding drugs varies.
Most schools are required to have a zero-tolerance policy for drugs. While this is important to keep teens safe, the subsequent lack of information is dangerous if they decide to break the rules. Inadequate information also prevents teens and adults from sympathizing with addicts or having the ability to revive overdoses by administering Narcan (officially known as Naloxone). Narcan has been proven successful on a national level; It is especially lifesaving because friends and family can administer it via injection or nasal spray. A 2021 study showed that “opioid overdose deaths decreased by 14 percent in states after they enacted naloxone access laws” (NIDA). News coverage often shows drug busts in large quantities at the border but has not displayed concern for Americans’ health and safety until recently; In September 2021, “‘the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a public safety alert about the increase in counterfeit prescription pills that contain fentanyl and methamphetamine.’ This was the first public safety alert in six years” (CDC.gov, Energy and Commerce Committee). Other forms of media, particularly targeted toward young people, such as television shows like Euphoria, a dramatic series starring a recovering drug addict in high school, may expose kids to illicit substances in an enticing way. Young people should be made aware of the potential dangers of drugs, especially the possibility of laced or disguised drugs. The debate between liberal and conservative political actors prevents action. However, the growing risk of addiction and overdose should not be left as is at the expense of young Americans.
“Mexico is the primary source of illicitly manufactured fentanyl, which is made from precursor chemicals that are largely purchased from China.” (Energy and Commerce Committee)
The cartels use social media to sell laced drugs. This targets younger users and often results in accidental overdoses when street drugs like Xanax and cocaine are laced with fentanyl. This is an increasingly important cause to address, as drug cartels have been expanding and becoming violent: crime rates for arson and murder are on the rise. It is imperative to promote information accessibility to young people, especially regarding life-saving tools like test kits and Narcan. The issue of drugs being laced with fentanyl and brought into the US, the resulting mortality rates, and the lack of Narcan available troubles American society. Teens must be protected from laced drugs. The issue of groups like the cartel bringing drugs into the US must be addressed; Their goal is to keep making money, which will not stop unless borders are protected. Additionally, young Americans must not be fearful of seeking addiction or emergency aid in the U.S.
“Rainbow fentanyl — fentanyl pills and powder that come in a variety of bright colors, shapes, and sizes — is a deliberate effort by drug traffickers to drive addiction amongst kids and young adults” (DEA).
3. THE OPTIONS
POTENTIAL APPROACH 1
One option is to increase the enforcement of border patrol on fentanyl smuggling. This would stop the supply of dangerous drugs from entering the U.S. A continuous issue surrounding drug access is the cartels. Recently, “Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids have been driving the crisis … with an increasing share of the supply coming from Mexico” (CFR.org). The US has had long-standing issues with drugs like marijuana and cocaine being brought in and potentially killing Americans through overdose.
Over the years, the approach to protect the US from drug trafficking was funding. Millions of dollars were used to aid the Mexican authorities in controlling the cartel. More recently, “through a similar partnership with Colombia, the United States provided almost $10 billion beginning in 2000; that program effectively drew to a close following the end to the civil conflict there in 2016.” (CFR.org). However, in response to the concerningly high amount of fentanyl-caused instant overdoses, the Biden Administration has put forth executive orders to help fund authorities at the border. The option of police funding is rational here, as it serves a legitimate purpose and is a direct defensive strategy to the issue of drug trafficking. Additionally, resources saved by decriminalization can be reallocated to fund border security. Specifically, funding increased police training, surveillance, and the number of officers at the border will help catch and deter drug smugglers. It is also important to have an efficient US-Mexico border for economic purposes like jobs and commerce.
POTENTIAL APPROACH 2
A major option is drug decriminalization and funding for Narcan and test strip availability. Drug decriminalization impacts societal perceptions of addiction, government subsidies & addiction aid and promotes awareness over avoidance of the issue. There have been positive impacts of decriminalization on prison systems in California. Along with helping reduce overdose rates and addiction, decriminalization would allow for the redistribution of resources to improve and fund police and prison systems. After decriminalizing drug possession, Oregon “significantly [expanded] access to much-needed evidence-informed, culturally-responsive treatment, harm reduction, and other health services through excess marijuana tax revenue… [Decriminalization] is one of a number of what are known as harm-reduction strategies, which promote safer and managed use of drugs as opposed to abstinence” (Gaille). Some cities are seeking decriminalization of all illegal drugs, arguing, among other points, that legal drugs are regulated for safety and quality, thereby reducing the risk of overdoses. Drug decriminalization could also help increase societal empathy towards addiction, increase government funding for aid, and demystify the issue. This is an important aspect of addressing this issue, as the main way to help the people impacted is to be empathetic and understand it. As more people become aware of the reality of addiction and the vulnerability of young people, we will be better able to combat it.
Critics of decriminalization cite the possible increase in drug use and addiction. However, the current rate of drug use is at a peak with the current policy, so it is clear that criminalization does not deter drug traffickers or users. The Department of Justice published an article in which author R J Dennis analyzes the Economics of Legalizing Drugs, and argues “that if reasonable costs are assigned to all aspects of the drug problem, benefits of drug legalization … will be large enough to offset even a doubling in the number of drug addicts … reducing the economic profit of drug dealing is necessary” (Dennis). This indicates that although more people may begin using drugs at the onset of this policy, the economic weakness it will impose on drug cartels, and the guaranteed safety of regulated drugs will provide an overall benefit to society.
POTENTIAL APPROACH 3
One prospective solution to the fentanyl crisis is the accessibility of adequate drug information to adolescents. This will prevent the targeting of young Americans by drug cartels through social media. In order to protect children from harm from counterfeit drugs, it is necessary to educate them about the risks that come from drug traffickers. Adults must protect teens from drug sales on social media and teach them to recognize illicit substances. The DEA noted in January of 2022 that various social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat have increasingly become a tool for drug networks “to expand their reach, create new markets, and target new clientele…selling deadly fake fentanyl and methamphetamine pills, often to unsuspecting teenagers, young adults, and older Americans, who think they are buying the real thing” (DEA). This is hard to regulate because they use posts that disappear after 24 hours and code words and emojis designed to get past government tracking and algorithms.
POTENTIAL APPROACH 4
Proponents of criminalization argue that as drugs have the potential to cause harm or violent behavior, they must be tightly controlled. Additionally, the cost of deterrence measured against possession, sales, and circulation of drugs is a historically successful prevention method in the U.S. Many traditional operations within society rely on this: people are less likely to do something they know they will be punished for. However, in the case of addiction, it is clear that the threat of jail time does not prove a valuable deterrent. Similarly, young Americans are likely to rebel against the age restrictions on drugs, so there is a possibility that loosening the restrictions would reduce that aspect. In looking at our history, “just as alcohol Prohibition barely reduced drinking and produced a violent black market, attacking today’s drug traffickers is fruitless so long as the U.S. opioid market is so lucrative. Production volumes of illicit drugs are so high, and drug trafficking is so profitable, that interdiction cannot raise prices enough to induce lower consumption…suppression has encouraged traffickers to smuggle cheaper and more potent opioids” (331, Werle and Zedillo). While the Trump Administration sought to fight against the drug crisis with force, the reallocation of resources was devastating and removed “approximately $5.5 billion annually from the treatment of low-income people with mental and substance use disorders” (GovInfo.gov). This financial damage could have been avoided through decriminalization, as it would provide enough to fund addiction aid and border security. An increase in restrictions for drugs entering the US can exist alongside decriminalization measures. The two actually go hand in hand as funding can easily be redistributed to the channels requiring the most support. This is an important notion for politicians and legislators to acknowledge as it will help spread awareness for this cause. If bipartisan policy can successfully address both border security and decriminalization, criminalization is not necessary.
4. RECOMMENDATIONS
Heightened Security at the Mexican Border
The most important factor here is prevention. Adults are arrested and imprisoned for their addictions, but the government should have protected them from getting to that point as children. The questions should surround why they had access in the first place, and how can we help them now: not how we can punish them. In that vein, the most direct approach for preventing drugs from getting into the country is through heightened security at the Mexican border.
Decriminalization
Decriminalization would free up police funding, prison space, and the time of judges, bailiffs, and many workers in government offices. This funding could be directed towards tightening protocols for searches of people entering the US from Mexico. Drug decriminalization will help improve societal perceptions of addiction, as well as provide resources for government subsidies, addiction aid, education, test kits, and Narcan distribution. Additionally, it is a tool for deterring young impulsivity and rebellion: similar to the prohibition example, the tightening of internal drug enforcement is not adequate enough and can adversely impact children and teens. This policy change would be in the best interest of young Americans and inadvertently will support the success of future generations.
Information Accessibility
The most effective way to combat the fentanyl crisis is through the accessibility of necessary information about drugs to children in the classroom. The conversation about drugs, addiction, and overdose must begin before teens are impacted by it. Especially with the social networks among young people, including fentanyl information in drug and health education in schools would prevent the youth from unknowingly harming themselves. Specifically, health classes should teach students about Naloxone and distribute test strips along with Narcan. Adults must know and protect the youth from drug traffickers on social media and must teach teens to recognize illicit substances. Additionally, adolescents must be aware that drugs could be a temptation and understand the extent of the consequences that accompany drugs.
5. REFERENCES
Bebinger, Martha. “Drug Overdose Deaths Are at a Record High. Here’s What the White House Plans to Do.” NPR, NPR, 21 Apr. 2022,https://www.npr.org/2022/04/21/1093974276/drug-overdose-deaths-opioid-fentanyl.
“Dea Warns of Brightly-Colored Fentanyl Used to Target Young Americans.” DEA, 30 Aug. 2022,https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2022/08/30/dea-warns-brightly-colored-fentanyl-used-target-young-americans.
Dennis, R J. “Economics of Legalizing Drugs.” Economics of Legalizing Drugs | Office of Justice Programs,https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/economics-legalizing-drugs.
Gaille, Louise. “16 Decriminalization of Drugs Pros and Cons.” Vittana.org, 16 Dec. 2019, https://vittana.org/16-decriminalization-of-drugs-pros-and-cons.
Joseph, Friedman. “Adolescent Drug Overdose Deaths Rose Exponentially for the First Time in History during the Covid Pandemic.” UCLA Health System, 2022,https://www.uclahealth.org/news/adolescent-drug-overdose-deaths-rose-exponentially
NIDA. “Naloxone for Opioid Overdose: Life-Saving Science.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, 30 Mar. 2017, https://nida.nih.gov/publications/naloxone-opioid-overdose-life-saving-science Accessed 4 Dec. 2022.
“The Fentanyl Crisis in America Is Getting Worse.” Energy and Commerce Committee, 21 Oct. 2022,https://republicans-energycommerce.house.gov/news/blog/the-fentanyl-crisis-in-america-is-getting-worse/.
Werle, Nick, and Ernesto Zedillo. We Can’t Go Cold Turkey: Why Suppressing Drug Markets Endangers Society, 2018,https://ycsg.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/we_can't_go_cold_turkey.pdf.
“What We Know Social Media — Dea.gov.” SOCIAL MEDIA Drug Trafficking Threat,https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2022-03/20220208-DEA_Social%20Media%20Drug%20Trafficking%20Threat%20Overview.pdf
