In a puzzling development, fentanyl seizures at the U.S.-Mexico border have plummeted by more than half over the past year, sparking concern among antidrug agents and researchers. The opioid, which has fueled one of the deadliest drug epidemics in American history, remains widely available on U.S. streets despite the decline.
According to Customs and Border Protection data, average monthly fentanyl seizures at the Mexican border have dropped from 1,700 pounds in 2023 to 746 pounds this year. While officials attribute the drop to President Trump’s policies empowering law enforcement officials to dismantle drug trafficking networks, the decline started before his administration took office.
The sharp decrease in fentanyl seizures has left experts scratching their heads. Are Mexican cartels producing less of the opioid? Or have they simply found new ways to sneak it across the border? Analysts and drug enforcement agents agree that fentanyl is still cheap and widely available on U.S. streets, yet overdose deaths plummeted nearly 27 percent last year compared to 2023.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that an estimated 80,391 Americans died from opioid overdoses last year, but scientists have rarely seen such a sharp decline in overdose deaths. Interviews with over a dozen drug-enforcement officers, academics, medical personnel, and scientists point to surprising shifts in the opioid epidemic.
Researchers suggest several factors may be contributing to the drop in fentanyl seizures:
* The Sinaloa cartel’s internal power struggle, which has weakened its ability to produce fentanyl.
* Shortages of ingredients for fentanyl production due to U.S. efforts to outwit precursor suppliers and China’s stepped-up enforcement on illicit exports.
* Decreased demand for fentanyl as users increasingly adulterate it with xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer that causes ghastly flesh wounds.
However, the shift may not be solely due to these factors. Some researchers theorize that fentanyl has already killed so many users that the market for the drug has shrunk, while others point to demographic trends as a possible explanation – younger Americans are using fentanyl less than older generations.
The data on fentanyl supply and usage remain limited, with no robust system of tracking in place. The U.S. government’s failure to establish such a system makes it difficult to know what is really happening.
While some good news about the decline in overdose deaths, there is still much uncertainty surrounding the shifts in opioids. Public health authorities are concerned that budget cuts could hurt programs that have promoted overdose antidotes and addiction treatment.
A recent survey published by the Rand research firm underscored how much remains unknown about the fentanyl epidemic – Americans’ rates of illegal fentanyl use were 20 times higher than estimates from the government’s annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
Source: WA Post
