The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced it has seized more than 379 million potentially deadly doses of Fentanyl across the U.S. in 2022, including more than 50 million ion fentanyl-laced, fake prescription pills and more than 10,000 pounds of fentanyl powder.
In Michigan, Ohio and Northern Kentucky, more than 280,000 fentanyl-laced pills and over 600 pounds of fentanyl powder were seized – that’s more than 19 million deadly doses.
Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat facing the United States, according to the DEA.
“It is a highly addictive man-made that is 50 times more potent than heroin.” reads a press release from the DEA. “Just two milligrams of fentanyl, the small amount that fits on the tip of a pencil, is considered a potentially deadly dose.”
Most of the fentanyl, trafficked by the Sinaloa and CJNG Cartels, is being mass-produced at secret factories in Mexico with chemicals sourced largely from China, the DEA said, adding the pills are mean to look like well-known pills like Oxycontin, Percocet and Xanax, but only contain filler and fentanyl.
“Fentanyl in pill form is a deliberate attempt by drug cartels to make illicit drug use more appealing to Americans,” said DEA Detroit Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene. “We have seized fentanyl in just about every size, shape and color in both Michigan and Ohio.”
Greene says the pills are readily found on social media, and no such pills should be considered safe.
The DEA is now providing a regularly updated counter on their website.
