Opioid-related deaths, particularly from fentanyl, have surged in the United States, quadrupling over the past decade. In 2022 alone, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a staggering 79,770 overdose deaths linked to opioids.
Since 2017, the United States has held China accountable for the influx of fentanyl, attributing tens of thousands of annual deaths to the substance originating from the Chinese mainland. In contrast, China has maintained a stringent drug control policy, rigorously regulating the production and distribution of fentanyl substances. Notably, China was the first country to officially schedule all fentanyl-related substances in 2019.
Building on this foundation, China and the U.S. have engaged in extensive counternarcotics cooperation. This collaboration has seen significant progress, particularly over the past year. On January 30, 2024, the two nations launched the Counternarcotics Working Group, focusing on the scheduling of drug-related substances, joint handling of cases, technology exchange, multilateral cooperation, and the removal of online drug advertisements.
Both sides have committed to enhancing dialogue and communication in the realm of drug control, emphasizing mutual respect and beneficial cooperation. This partnership aims to address global drug challenges more effectively.
A recent Chinese delegation engaged with U.S. authorities, including the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the Department of Justice, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Discussions included key cases with DEA investigators in San Francisco, highlighting the depth of this cooperative effort.
However, tensions remain. In late November, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump threatened to impose additional tariffs on Chinese imports in response to the fentanyl crisis. The Chinese Foreign Ministry responded by reaffirming China's commitment to counternarcotics cooperation based on equality and mutual respect, urging the U.S. to appreciate China's goodwill.
Despite these challenges, the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. emphasized that since the scheduling of fentanyl-related substances, the U.S. has not seized any fentanyl or its analogues originating from China since September 2019. Nevertheless, the DEA points out that fentanyl remains the leading cause of death among Americans aged 18-45.
House hearings titled \"The Fentanyl Crisis in America: Inaction is No Longer an Option\" advocate for bipartisan cooperation to combat this epidemic, highlighting the urgent need for collective action. Additionally, media reports indicate that insufficient efforts to publicize the dangers of drugs and the legalization of marijuana in over half of the states may contribute to the misuse of fentanyl substances.
Hua Zhendong, technical director of the National Narcotic Control Commission's National Narcotics Laboratory, emphasized that the root cause of the fentanyl crisis lies within the U.S., citing the relaxation of opioid prescription controls leading to widespread addiction. Currently, the U.S., accounting for just 5% of the world's population, consumes approximately 80% of the global opioids, yet fentanyl-related substances have not been permanently scheduled as a class.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
