The U.S. Fentanyl Crisis: A National Health and Crime Epidemic

Abstract

This article discusses fentanyl as a crime and health epidemic in the United States. The introduction of illicit opioid/fentanyl into American society has created an unprecedented health risk, which takes the life of over 111,000 victims per year and shows no signs of slowingdown. Fentanyl is highly toxic, with tiny amounts of ingestion causing death. This article examines how lax border and crime policies at the federal level have contributed to the opioid/fentanyl epidemic and provides recommendations for reframing a federal response by developing a comprehensive national strategy based upon a root-cause assessment.