Fentanyl Crisis in the U.S.
Fentanyl— 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine—is now the leading driver of overdose deaths across the U.S., claiming around 74,000 lives in 2023, and remains the top cause of death for Americans aged 18–45.
While nationwide overdose fatalities are finally declining—down nearly 27% in 2024—the fentanyl crisis continues to be a devastating public health and security emergency.
The following information is from NPR