Trump’s Fentanyl Strategy draws Scrutiny as experts Question its Effectiveness
The Biden and Obama administrations’ former top White House drug policy adviser, Regina LaBelle, voiced a common sentiment: “You think about all of the people who’ve lost loved ones, and they want a president who’s going too hold drug cartels accountable.” However, she criticized former President Trump’s recent declarations as “about looking like you’re doing something rather than actually doing something.”
Fentanyl: A Weapon of Mass Destruction?
While the extreme potency of fentanyl and its potential for causing fatal overdoses are undeniable, it has not been deployed as a weapon by any military, police force, or terrorist organization in the last decade. The sole documented instance of fentanyl being used as a bioweapon occurred during the 2002 Moscow theater hostage crisis. Russian security services released a gas containing an aerosolized fentanyl analogue, killing the 40 captors but also contributing to the deaths of up to 132 hostages.
Since then, fentanyl has not emerged as a prominent bioweapon, despite becoming the dominant illicit drug in the U.S.,surpassing prescription painkillers and heroin.
overdose Deaths and Trump Management Actions
Drug deaths in the U.S. have been declining since 2023, but remain at epidemic levels, with approximately 76,000 Americans estimated to have died from overdoses in the 12 months ending in April.
The Trump administration’s response has been limited to a hardline executive order on homelessness and threats to withhold funding from harm reduction organizations. Together, key federal agencies responsible for drug policy, addiction treatment, and research have experienced staff and resource cuts. Both the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) currently lack permanent leadership.
Furthermore, LaBelle noted that law enforcement agents, including those from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), have been reassigned from drug trafficking investigations to immigration enforcement and city patrols.
The “Weapon of Mass Destruction” Designation
Trump is not alone in suggesting fentanyl be classified as a weapon of mass destruction. Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert of Colorado has proposed similar legislation, initially joined by Ohio democrat Tim Ryan, who unsuccessfully ran for Senate in 2022.
Carnegie Mellon professor Douglas Caulkins explained the appeal of this designation, notably given that even minuscule amounts of fentanyl can cause overdose in individuals without opioid tolerance. However, he cautioned that applying the label without justification diminishes its significance.
I personally would prefer not to call every single thing that kills a large number of people a weapon of mass destruction.
Caulkins argued that “by those arguments, cigarettes would be weapons of mass destruction – cigarettes kill more Americans every year than fentanyl does.”
Marijuana Rescheduling and Policy Shifts
trump also indicated he is considering rescheduling marijuana to a lower tier on the federal Schedule of Controlled substances, citing the potential for increased research opportunities.
The marijuana rescheduling process, previously stalled under the Biden administration, remains in limbo. Experts believe the primary impact of rescheduling to Schedule III would be financial benefits for businesses through reduced federal taxes.
Marijuana policy is currently in a holding pattern following last month’s closure of the “cannabis loophole,” which could force many cannabis businesses operating in legal gray areas to shut down unless Congress intervenes within a year.
STAT’s coverage of chronic health issues is supported by a grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies. Our financial supporters are not involved in any decisions about our journalism.
