Letter: Agencies have duty to stop fentanyl poisonings

The CDC estimates that over 100,000 Americans died from opioid "overdoses" in 2022. Of those deaths, over half were estimated to be attributable to fentanyl-laced synthetic (or counterfeit) opioids, including Xanax, OxyContin, Vicodin, Percocet, Ecstasy, and cocaine.

While some drug users seek-out fentanyl for its potency (50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine), the CDC estimates that the majority of these deaths were attributable to fake opioids adulterated with fentanyl without the user's knowledge. If that's accurate, then these deaths weren't overdoses. They were poisonings.

However, a search of the CDC, FDA, and DEA websites reveals no references to fentanyl poisonings, only overdoses. The FDA has been granted extraordinary authority to shut down the operations of food and drug production facilities and mandate the recall of finished products and raw materials if they uncover evidence of harmful pathogens or chemicals in the facility's products or physical plant. They will exercise their authority even when the only symptoms experienced by consumers are upset stomachs.

But, the FDA has taken no action to stop the poisoning of Americans by synthetic opioids containing lethal amounts of fentanyl.

The synthetic opioids laced with fentanyl are not produced in the U.S. So, the production facilities are out of the FDA's reach. But, it's known that these poisoned drugs are entering the U.S. through the border with Mexico. If the FDA and the other agencies continue to treat these deaths as self-inflicted overdoses (as if there is any safe dose of fentanyl), they will continue to absolve themselves of any responsibility.

But, these growing numbers of poisonings are their responsibility and they have the authority to do something about it. They're supposed to be the experts. They need to figure it out.

Randy Harris

Campton Hills