LOUISVILLE, Ky. — According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 150 people die each day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
With fentanyl being the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 45, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is working to fight fentanyl every day in Kentucky. It doesn’t take much to kill a person; a potentially deadly dose is just 2 milligrams, enough to fit on the tip of a pencil.
“In our region, it’s pretty much everywhere ... people don't have to go to a street corner to access their drugs," said Erek Davodowich, DEA assistant special agent in charge, Louisville Division. "They’re able to do it from social media apps on their cellphone and actually from the dark web. You never have to meet with somebody outside; you’re able to place an order on certain social media apps, and the drugs can be delivered to you.”
The DEA said it seized more than 77-million fentanyl pills and almost 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder in 2023. It’s enough to kill every American.
“A lot of times, when people are taking fentanyl, they don’t realize they’re taking fentanyl," Davodowich said. "They think they’re taking another pill. People are getting prescription pills that are actually counterfeit pills via the Internet, via these social media websites. When they’re taking these pills, they think they may be taking an Adderall, a Xanax, an Oxy[contin] not realizing that has been laced with a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl.”
The Sinaloa and Jalisco Cartels in Mexico are responsible for the vast majority of fentanyl in the U.S.
“We’re working on targeting these cartels, and we’re looking at the entire supply chain," Davodowich said. "We are going back as far as China to look at the chemical supply companies that are responsible for providing the precursor chemicals to the cartels in Mexico.”
Thursday, the DEA announced a partnership with 17,000 registered pharmacies nationwide to become authorized collectors and help people safely get rid of prescription drugs.
“That’s an opportunity for people to clean out their medicine cabinets because oftentimes, that’s where the path of addiction begins, by taking something that’s been left behind," Davodowich said.
Davodowich said his best advice is to not take prescription medication or any drugs given by a friend or family. He added the DEA is making arrests, seizures and is also working with more than 343 different offices across the world.