US drug crisis concerns rise over synthetic drugs despite fall in overdose deaths
UKPulse News Desk
A new wave of synthetic drugs is sweeping across the United States, raising fears of an accelerating drug crisis, despite a fall in overdose deaths from 2022 to last year.
- Drug overdose deaths in the US fell from approximately 110,000 in 2022 to around 70,000 last year.
- Authorities are increasingly concerned about cheaper, more powerful synthetic drugs, including 'tranq'.
- President Donald Trump pledged a crackdown on drug cartels earlier this year, proscribing many as terrorist organisations.
Concerns are growing in the United States over a new wave of synthetic drugs, which authorities fear could accelerate the nation's long-standing drug crisis. This comes despite a reported fall in drug overdose deaths, from a peak of around 110,000 in 2022 to roughly 70,000 last year.
Cheaper and more powerful synthetic drugs, such as the animal tranquilliser known as 'tranq', are a particular focus of concern. Communities in areas like South Side, Chicago, are actively battling this crisis.
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump pledged a crackdown on drug cartels, designating many as terrorist organisations in response to the crisis.
Why this matters: The rise of cheaper, more powerful synthetic drugs could worsen America's decades-long drug crisis, despite recent reductions in overdose fatalities.