Why in news?

Recently, US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs of 25% on Mexico and Canada and 10% on China, citing a high trade deficit.

During a press briefing, Trump linked the tariffs to the fentanyl crisis, accusing China of supplying the drug and Mexico and Canada of enabling its entry into the US.

What’s in today’s article?

• Fentanyl
• The Scale of the Opioid Epidemic
• Challenges in dealing with the fentanyl crisis

Fentanyl

• Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid approved for pain relief and anesthesia. It is about 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin.
  • Opioids are drugs that originate from or mimic substances found in the opium poppy plant.
  • They provide pain relief and can cause euphoria but are highly addictive.
  • Apart from fentanyl, other well-known opioids include oxycodone, morphine, codeine, and heroin.
• Risks and Effects
  • Overdosing on fentanyl can lead to severe health issues, including stupor, changes in pupil size, clammy skin, cyanosis (blue skin), coma, and respiratory failure, which can be fatal.

The Scale of the Opioid Epidemic

• The US is experiencing an opioid epidemic, with drug overdose deaths in 2021 being more than six times higher than in 1999.
• In 2021, over 75% of the nearly 107,000 overdose deaths involved opioids.
• Addiction and Prescription Painkillers
  • Many individuals begin using prescription opioid painkillers and become addicted due to the drug's immediate effects, which wear off quickly, causing users to seek more.
• Impact of Synthetic Opioids
  • Since 2013, deaths related to synthetic opioids, particularly illicit fentanyl and its analogues like acetyl fentanyl and carfentanil, have increased significantly.
• Fentanyl in Other Drugs
  • A recent US House Committee report revealed that inexpensive fentanyl is often mixed into other drugs, sometimes without the buyers' knowledge, exacerbating the crisis.
• China’s Role in the Fentanyl Epidemic
  • China has been blamed for trafficking fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances to the US, with fentanyl often shipped through international mail and express consignment operations, according to a 2020 DEA report.
  • Investigators found that several companies in Wuhan and Shanghai are involved in manufacturing chemicals used to produce synthetic opioids, which are then shipped to Mexico for processing into pills.
  • The Chinese Communist Party is accused of indirectly subsidizing fentanyl production by offering tax rebates to companies involved in manufacturing precursor chemicals, which are often used in illegal opioid production.

Challenges in dealing with the fentanyl crisis

• Efforts to tackle the fentanyl crisis are hindered by strained diplomatic relations between the US and China.
• While there have been occasional steps toward cooperation, the deteriorating ties have made it difficult to address the issue effectively.
• Role of Local Governments in China
  • Fentanyl production provides employment in many Chinese provinces, making it harder to combat the issue locally.
  • To avoid law enforcement, operators often alter the chemical formulas slightly.
• China’s Blame on the US
  • China has shifted some blame onto the US, arguing that the opioid crisis began long before fentanyl.
  • It points to the actions of US pharmaceutical companies like Purdue Pharma, which have been accused of over-prescribing opioids, leading to widespread addiction and demand for stronger drugs.