The U.S. drug industry has been implicated in the origins of America’s fentanyl crisis, according to Sherri Hobson, a former assistant U.S. attorney in San Diego. For years, pharmaceutical companies aggressively marketed legal opioids such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, leading to widespread addiction. Public outrage eventually prompted government intervention, resulting in a crackdown on these companies. However, as legal opioid supplies diminished, demand from addicted Americans persisted. Hobson explains that this gap was filled by Mexican cartels, which began manufacturing fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, to satisfy the ongoing demand.

Hobson describes the situation as “strange,” noting that the pharmaceutical industry’s actions effectively paved the way for cartels to dominate the market. The cartels, known for their business acumen and pursuit of profit and power, quickly capitalised on the opportunity presented by the crackdown on legal opioids.

DEA Administrator Anne Milgram concurs with Hobson, affirming that the opioid epidemic set the stage for the fentanyl crisis. However, she emphasises the role of social media in exacerbating the situation today. Platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok are reportedly used by cartels to coordinate operations, recruit drug couriers, and market their products. Despite statements from social media companies about efforts to combat this issue, the problem persists, with drugs being advertised daily.

Source: CBS News