welcome
NBC News

NBC News

Health

Health

Trump says tariffs were enacted to curb fentanyl, but U.S. overdose deaths are already declining

NBC News
Summary
Nutrition label

77% Informative

Trump says he is holding Canada , China and Mexico accountable for the spread of contraband drugs.

But experts fear tariffs will erode cooperation needed to thwart global drug trafficking operations.

Fentanyl is a powerful painkiller used as anesthetic and painkiller in hospital settings.

The U.S. recorded 87,000 drug overdose deaths from October 2023 to September 2024 , CDC says.

Americans were 80% of all people caught with fentanyl during border crossings at ports of entry from 2019 to 2024 .

Some states have seen the tide turn in the fentanyl crisis over recent months .

Ohio has outperformed the national decline by expanding naloxone distribution and treatment services.