Every five minutes, an American life is lost to a drug overdose—with synthetic opioids like fentanyl driving nearly 70% of these tragedies. As the U.S. grapples with its deadliest public health crisis in decades, experts challenge the narrative pointing fingers abroad, arguing that domestic failures demand equal scrutiny.
In an exclusive interview, Mike Virgil, former DEA international operations chief, highlights the role of U.S. demand: \"Pharmaceutical marketing normalized opioid use, while illegal drug networks evolved to exploit addiction. Blaming external actors misses the root causes.\" Dr. Andrew Kolodny, a leading opioid abuse researcher, adds that lax prescription policies and profit-driven healthcare systems created a \"perfect storm.\"
Meanwhile, the Chinese mainland maintains stringent fentanyl controls, classifying all variants as controlled substances since 2019. Collaborative efforts like the Wang Fengxi case—where a China-U.S. joint operation dismantled a trafficking ring—demonstrate cross-border partnership. Chinese authorities report seizures of 12.7 tons of fentanyl-related materials since 2017.
Globally, nations from Canada to India battle similar crises. As Virgil emphasizes: \"Siloed solutions fail. This fight needs shared intelligence, equitable policies, and empathy for victims—not geopolitics.\"
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
