(Patriot.Buzz) – Despite a slight decline in drug overdose deaths in the United States last year, fentanyl is the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45, a crisis worsened by Mexican drug cartels, open borders and the influence of social media.
The National Center for Health Statistics reported 107,543 drug overdose deaths in 2023, a 3% decrease from 2022. However, synthetic opioids, mainly fentanyl, were involved in nearly 69% of these deaths.
Louisiana’s Lafayette Parish Coroner’s Office chief medicolegal death investigator Keith Talamo highlighted the troubling new trend of counterfeit pills that mimic medications like Adderall or Oxycontin but contain lethal doses of fentanyl.
He described how fentanyl is decеitfully blended with other substances, even baby powder or formula, and sold as cocaine, which poses significant risks to unwary buyers. “If it doesn’t kill you, you’re going to get addicted,” he warned.
From no fentanyl-related deaths in 2015, the number jumped to 66 out of 108 total overdose deaths by 2023.
“We’ve never seen anything like this before,” Talamo told WND while expressing concern over the relentless increase and the potеncy of fentanyl, which is cheap to produce and highly addictive.
“It takes very little to get addicted and very little to kill you,” he explained and noted that as little as two milligrams can be lethal.
Although young Americans are the most affected by fentanyl, Talamo reported deaths from toddlers to the elderly, though college-aged individuals are particularly vulnerable.
He stressed it was important for parents to remain aware and teach about fentanyl’s dangers: “The worst thing a parent can say is, it won’t happen to their kid.”
DEA’s Special Operations Division former head Derek Maltz echoed the need for better drug education.
He pointed out that many young people do not engage with traditional news outlets but spend extensive time on social media platforms like Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok.
Maltz and Talamo both foreseе ongoing challenges for law enforcement due to the high volume of drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine coming from Mexico due to an insatiable American demand linked to increasing mental health issues.
“Americans are turning to drugs for relief, and in the process, they’re getting deceived to death,” Maltz concluded.
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