Enough Fentanyl to Kill Every American

That is how much fentanyl was intercepted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in 2022, according to a BBC article. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid designed for use as a pain killer. It is highly addictive and roughly 50 times more powerful than heroin. The DEA has called fentanyl the “deadliest drug threat facing the US.” Just two milligrams of the drug—about enough to cover the tip of a pencil—are enough to kill a person. In 2022, the agency seized over 379 million potentially deadly doses of fentanyl—over 10,000 pounds or 4,500 kilograms of the substance. As the BBC notes, that is enough to kill every man, woman, and child in the U.S.! The amount seized in 2022 is double the amount seized in 2021.

Most of the fentanyl coming into the U.S., and most of the other hard drugs, are entering from Mexico, drawn in by a strong market for them. Once in the country, they feed an ever-growing culture of addiction in the U.S.

It is no surprise that a rise in drug use is occurring as our societies turn away from our Creator and His word. The attempt to fill a void in our lives by using drugs reflects a loss of hope in the future. Yet, the Bible reveals that the real hope for the future comes from the word of God (Psalm 119:147). Human beings need to understand that there is a real God and that there is an ultimate purpose for every one of our lives. Without that understanding, many are turning to drugs that only offer a short-term escape from the emptiness that they feel. To learn more about the growing global drug crisis and the hope that comes with understanding our purpose and our future, be sure to read “Dying to Get High.”