Fentanyl overdose deaths have quadrupled in recent years

Deaths in the U.S. from overdoses of the opioid fentanyl nearly quadrupled between 2016 and 2021. This was reported by Axios, citing a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The U.S. is facing a massive opioid epidemic that claims about 100,000 American lives each year. Fentanyl overdose deaths are 2.6 times higher in men than in women. The highest mortality rates are among those aged 25-31 and 35-44 years.

Jake Sullivan said several U.S. agencies, including the Departments of Justice and Treasury, have taken extensive measures to combat fentanyl trafficking. U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized more than 6.5 tons of fentanyl in fiscal year 2022.

Fentanyl is an opioid synthetic analgesic that is 100 and 50 times stronger than morphine and heroin, respectively. The substance is smuggled from Mexico into the United States, where more than 110,000 people died from drug overdoses last year alone.

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