Dr. Donna Nelson: Understanding the Magnitude of the Fentanyl Crisis in the US

Most people are aware of the US fentanyl problem, but not necessarily of its magnitude. The number of deaths reported by the CDC began increasing sharply in 2013 from about 3,000 annual deaths to over 75,000 deaths in 2022. This rapid increase in only about 10 years was unexpected, and death rates continue to rise. A simple supply-and-demand relationship gives a rationale. A deeper dive into CDC data reveals that age groups most impacted are those in their 20s and 30s, which includes college undergraduates. On the supply side, US Border Patrol seizures increase annually. In 2023, over 27,000 pounds of illicit fentanyl were seized, which is enough to kill every person in the US over 18 times. Multiple factors have caused the increase of illicit fentanyl over time — border porosity, more aggressive Mexican cartel smuggling operations, and increased shipments of fentanyl precursors to those cartels. Possible solutions will be presented.

Dr. Donna Nelson obtained her PhD in chemistry at UT-Austin with Michael Dewar and did her post doctorate at Purdue. She was the first female and only Native American to accept a professorship at the University of Oklahoma Department of Chemistry.